forestay toggle/fuel tank

[niall_m]

I'm currently working to complete surveyor's recs
for work on my boat, and there're a couple I'm
not clear about -- can anyone help?

One requires the fuel tank and filler to be earthed.
But what (on a wooden boat) do we earth it _to_?

The other is 'ensure that a toggle is incorporated at the lower
end of the forestay to allow full articulation'. What kind of toggle
do I need to buy?

Thanks
Niall

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[bruce]

toggle depends on what the mount to hull is, the toggle should be able to 'lean' without binding, ground the tank to the motor which will take it to ground thru shaft and prop, or any keel bolt.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[William_H]

If you go to a chandler you find many turnscrews (bottle screws) they come with a toggle end or plain end. A plain end has a threaded section into the body and on the other end an eye to attach shackle etc. The Toggle end is the same except that a pin is fixed in the eye, a piece of SS with a slot cut in the middle curves ove the pin back to near itself (a U shape) where holes in the SS take a clevis pin. The result is articulation in 2 directions enable any off centre load to be taken by the articulation and not trying to bend the thread. You may be able to buy a toggle end for your turnscrew or replace the whole turnscrew except it will introduce another 2 cms intio the length of the stay. Thats OK if you can take up the slack with the turnscrew. Alternaively you may be able to do away with the turnscrew and replace with shackles or SS plates if you can adjust the rig with the shrouds. It sounds however that you are at the mercy of the surveyor. ( he is right however that it is better with articulation)
regards will

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndyL]

For toggles look at http://www.proboat.co.uk/marine/index.htm

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[MarkV]

I seem to remember a round the world race by a fleet of identical steel yachts where several had mast collaps because there wasn't enough articulation in the forestay adjuster. The were exercised fron side to side ever so slightly and eventually broke.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

your 12v system should have its negative side connected to earth already, i imagine the surveyor would have mentioned if it wasn't. that means you can connect your tank and filler to a convenient negative terminal.

the advice is sound as a static build-up could cause a spark, especially when the filling nozzle comes into contact with the filler. diesel is not likely to ignite but with petrol a disaster could happen.

a typical toggle will add about an inch to the forestay. if you have enough thread showing on the bottlescrew to take that up you'll be ok, otherwise your cheapest option is to look for a shorter bottlescrew with built-in toggle.