[Dirtboy]

We bought our Morgan Tiger Cub in February and something's been bugging us since day one. The windvane at the top of the mast was bent back:

It just didn't look right and prolly wasn't all that consistant at that angle. I don't have the ability to get up there to fix it and I've been thinking of ways to strighten it from the deck. Today I decided to give my best idea a try. I had an old spreader lying around:

Drilled a few holes:

And then fastened it to the backstay. I used the main halyard (tied the bitter end to the bottom of the old spreader to form a continous loop) and ran it up the backstay:

It just touched the bottom of the windvane, that was the first failure:

So I drilled another hole, lower on the old spreader. It pushed the windvane up a little but it seemed to spring almost all the way back, that was the second failure:

So I drilled another hole, even lower on the old spreader. It pushed the windvane up and I tried to compensate for the "spring back" effect. Well, it didn't spring back now it was too high, third failue:

So, I made a little "hook" with a bolt:

Ran it up the backstay one more time, success:

Now the boat looks great and the best part: The admiral admitted I'm a freakin genius

Next day!

Fat-assed bird!

DB

 

[deniseO30]

the things we do so we don't have to go aloft! Your just the McGiver of rigging repairs DB!

 

[swimnfit]

I have always considered myself to be pretty good at "Macgyvering" things. But you sir..... are a master! :laugher :thewave:
Well Done!!

 

[cb32863]

That was awesome, well done!!

 

[mgmhead]

Well Done! A little ingenutity and great persistence pays off. The reward being double sweet if you actually fixed your boat and the Admiral was impressed. Can't do much better than that.

Take the rest of the day off.

 

[sailingdog]

Nicely done Dirtboy.

 

[bubb2]

Excellent!!!!!!!!!

If you could figure out how to pull down a skyed halyard that way you got something you could market.

 

[Dirtboy]

Excellent!!!!!!!!!

If you could figure out how to pull down a skyed halyard that way you got something to you could market.

Guess I could get another one of these:

BTW, this was our "rescue monkey," she had been a research animal. We got her when she was 12 and she lived with us for over 20 years until she passed away. If you look real close you can see the crude tattoo on her chest ...... she was number 49.

Thank's for the positive comments, everyone.

DB

 

[Stillraining]

Well done....Now Mr McGyver Sir... please show me how to do that on my split backstay..

 

[arf145]

I give you genius points for the continuous loop thing, for sure! Shoot, I give you genius points for having a way to retrieve. I might have gotten all excited about my great idea and sent it up there with no way back

Nice one!

 

[Faster]

Nicely done, and nicely documented! Great post!

 

[Bene505]

Great job. You get the genuis award for 2009!

Regards,
Brad

 

[hellosailor]

Them crows make tasty eating, yessir. Clever bait you found for them, now all you need is a .22 and a pot.

 

[whigmaleerie]

Your a master, I bet it took ages to think tha one up, The bulb ing my masthead light went the other day any ideas

 

[knothead]

That was great DB. What perseverance.
I hate to ask how long the whole operation took though.

 

[captbillc]

Dirtboy----- this shows what can be done when you think things over & then go ahead and fix the problem. congrats !