[Toller]

I just bought a 40 year old Petrel. It is 12' long, with a 20' mast and 100sf of sail. The stays are 3/32". The forestay has two frayed wires.

So my questions...
1) Can I use the frayed forestay? I would think the sidestays see a lot more stress than the forestay, but of course two wires are broken...
2) Were I to replace it; I have some cable off my old hang glider. (the last landing bent it up beyond repair) They are 1/8". Any reason not to use the heavier cable? The jib will just barely go on, but one on it slides easily enough.
3) Were I to use the 1/8" cable, can I use a kit from Lowe's that has a saddle and 2 clamps?

Thanks

 

[GeorgeB]

Does your hang glider's cable have any kinks in it or is the other parts of the glider "bent"? Without seeing your boat, you probably can get away with it. If you are anywhere near a West Marine with a rig shop, I'd borrow thier swager rather than using the hardware store wire clamps (swages cost about the same). You will want to bend the cable around a pair of thimbals before you swage. How do you get tension on the headstay? turnbuckle?

To answer your question, the headstay carries the most load of all your stays. Broken strands or kinks in the wire is bad.

 

[Toller]

The cables are good, its the aluminum tubes that took a beating.
Yes, a turnbuckle.
Why 2 thimbles? I can't picture where more than one would go.

The nearest West Marine is 50 miles away. The are a few little marinas close to me, but I don't know if they do anything like that. But I will contact them.

 

[GeorgeB]

The thimbals go on each end of the cable. Open loops of cable distort under a load. You can buy a hand swager but borrowing is cheaper. Where are you located? Cadmium or zinc plated hardware store items rust out in a season in a salt environment and a headstay failure means a rig failure and a new mast would cost more than your boat. The hardware store clamps will also leave you with meathooks which also arn't a good thing around fabric sails.

 

[Toller]

I can use one end already made; I thought you were saying I needed two at the new end! Makes more sense now.

It is fresh water and will be at the top of the mast. Still, I understand your objections. thanks

 

[krisscross]

Get a new cable made by Salty Dog Marine Salty Dog Marine
They have very reasonable prices and excellent service.

 

[killarney_sailor]

I think you will fine with your 1/8 cable, a thimble and clamps. Note that you will have a cut cable end exposed that good cause damage to the top of the sail. You might be able to cover it with a bit of heat shrink tubing or mcguyver another solution. I would not get too stressed out. You are not going for a long sea voyage, just having fun on a lake. It should work out fine.