Deadeyes as an alternative to Rigging Screws

[donncha]

Having managed to loose 3 stainless rigging screws (7/16'') overboard last season, we are in the position that we must buy 3 new ones at €40 each. The question arises in my mind that it would be much cheaper to replace with traditional dead eyes. However we have an aluminum mast with a furling headsail, so it wouldn't be an aesthetic decision, the mast is very well stayed, 2 back stays, 4 lower shrouds, 2 uppers and of course the forestay (which is the weak point in being the roller foil). She is also a ketch rig, so the mainsail is quite small comparatively.

If I were to use dead eyes for the lower(inner) shrouds, would this be adequate?

I am thinking of hardwood blocks of 3 inch diameter, with 8 or 10mm line.

The current rigging is 6mm stainless steel, which should be replaced over the next couple of seasons.

 

[lw395]

You can get 10mm ss rigging screws for under £10, try ebay. Should be ok for 6mm wire?

 

[lesweeks]

My 25' yawl, which I'm currently restoring, is smaller than yours (I'm guessing) and it was rigged with deadeyes which, frankly, looked a bit over-the-top and so I'm intending to go for simple lashing of the shrouds when I eventually get around to replacing the rigging in a couple of years time. In the meantime I've got 4 pairs of deadeyes (somewhere between 3" & 4") which, if you decide to go down that route, you are welcome to have for a suitable donation to the RNLI.
PM me if you're interested.

 

[DownWest]

For a modern deadeye system, have a look at precourt.ca a Canadian co. If you are interested I can send an old chart that gives the relative strengths of wire and rope so one can match the lashings to the rigging wire.
Andrew

 

[donncha]

[ QUOTE ]
You can get 10mm ss rigging screws for under £10, try ebay. Should be ok for 6mm wire?

[/ QUOTE ]

I have read some horror stories about cheap rigging screws, so I don't think I will be going down that route. However if anyone is able to point me in the direction of good quality 10mm rigging screws at a decent price I would appreciate it a lot.

Thanks for the offer Les_W I will keep that in mind, dead eyes do look a bit big, and they may look out of place alongside an aluminum mast.

Those precourt.ca systems look very interesting I have to say, certainly worth consideration, however at $52 for the suitable dead eyes there isn't really that much of a saving.

On a side note, Jimmy Green seem to have 8mm bottle screws at four for 70 pounds. Would they be adequate for 6mm wire?

 

[Kukri]

Deadeyes are a lot of work. It takes me about a day to set six up correctly

 

[Seanick]

You would really struggle to get them tight enough for a bermudian rig.
Good galavanised ones, whiich I use on my customers classics will last you years with very little tlc (grease) and to my mind they are 'safer', as any flaws show as rust weeps.

These have galvanised threads and locknuts, so you can tape over the mid hole to reduce water ingress.

http://www.galvanisedspecialists.com/sto...d4d29755595d2c9

 

[donncha]

Thanks for the advice Seanick, I just ordered three 12mm rigging screws from the above site.

You can't really go wrong with those prices, I'll try them out for this season and see if they do the job, if not I'll splash out on the stainless.

If they are well looked after they will do the job.

 

[DownWest]

I am thinking of going the galvanized route,but the SWL of those rigging screws means I need a 20mm(!!) to get near the load bearing minimums. Any commemt SeaNick?

Rig is gaff cutter on 1400kg displ. Single shroud per side of 5 or 6 mm. (prob 6 mm.)
Andrew

 

[cliffordpope]

Surely a vital difference is that deadeyes provide elasticity, rigging screws are rigid? Traditional gaff rig with wooden spars and relatively flexible wooden hulls were set up with quite slack rigging. I can't see a taughtly set bermudan rig being appropriate for deadeyes.

 

[DownWest]

Clifford,
I thought off making Tufnol deadeyes, my reservation is that I will be doing a lot of trailering and I wonder how they would set up each time. Plain lashings would be better, possibly.
The hull is glued clinker, so not very flexible.
Andrew

 

[Seanick]

Yes, you may have to go up a size or two.......It is tricky calculating the exact loading of rigs-see the guides on the Classic Marine website. Lots of 'fudge factors'.
On the SCODS, 3.5 ton, 6mm rigging, most use 1/2" galve bottle screws, but some do use 3/4" They look 'right' when on the boat.

 

[Seanick]

Yes, Clifford, you are right, dead eyes do provide elasticity-unwanted elasticity!
Any rig that is slack has to endure more loadings and fatiuge than one that is set up tight. If the hull cannot edure reasonable rig loadings then the end is nigh!
Small wooden hulls do flex when they are old and due for a rebuild, but new and seaworthy ones do not.
Take a look at Tom Cunliffes 'Westernman' All set up with deadeyes bar tight, for a big powerfull rig on a stiff hull. No slack there at all. It takes him all day to set up, with a 'special' proceedure.
Old rigs were not slack for a reason, they were just slack due to natural fibres of the ropes through the deadeyes and the constraints of natural sailcloth. It has been proved many times that a modern gaffer with good sails and a tight rig can, on average, show a transom to its bernudian counterpart.