Help! I think my forestay is disintegrating

[vyv_cox]

I doubt very much if you would get a rigger to go up there with a knackered fore stay. So I would be tempted to get the yard to un-step the mast and get all the standing rigging checked out. Better to do this now while you are out of the water than later.

My forestay has been removed several times by riggers who climbed the mast supported by genoa and spinnaker halyards.

 

[stranded]

Yard is on the case so hopefully will know more soon. Thanks again for all the advice. Will try to get down to watch when they replace so I understand better how it all works and whether I could DIY it in future. Looks like a fascinating website Vyv - look forward to explore more when I have better than my phone to so it. Mark

 

[Fantasie 19]

Another thought. When you next go to the boat, take the genoa down and bring the halliard down to the stem head to take tension off the forestay. You might also want to think about reducing tension on the backstay, but not to the extent that the mast becomes loose. Probably not essential but it won't do any harm until you're able to get things sorted.

+1 absolutely...

 

[PhillM]

My forestay has been removed several times by riggers who climbed the mast supported by genoa and spinnaker halyards.

I stand corrected.

I guess that 2 decent halyards are pretty good security. When the riggers were looking at mine they were not at all impressed with the running rigging either, so I guess that's why they didn't really want to go up on it.

 

[sailor211]

If its a lot of fine strands it could be the feeder. The monkey balls attached by wire rope which is fine multi strand.

 

[stranded]

As you can imagine Sailor 211 that suggestion has caught my attention as it sounds like it might be a lot cheaper and also would quieten the fear that I have for the best part of a year been sailing my family around on a boat with a forestay attached by only a couple of strands! If only. I knew what it means - monkey balls!?

 

[[70521]]

Having been on a large dingy where there was a catastrophic rigging failure, in other words the mast fell down, I never ever want to experience it again - play safe and replace it.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I knew what it means - monkey balls!?

It's a reference to a pre-feeder which does have an appearance that could be described as being testicular.
If you have one on your furler it would be held in position with a strop. The suggestion is that it could be the strop that was failing rather than your forestay.

I think

 

[stranded]

Phew. Sailor 211 was right - a bit of wire that was used to attach a pre-feeder and which retracts when not in use. The feeder has just been cut off and the wires left in there. Forestay is fine. Wonder what'll be next! Mark

 

[Rigger Mortice]

After all that!

 

[stranded]

I know. That's the trouble with lack of understanding, and everything is a bit scarier because it's a boat. At home I'll have a crack at anything - plumbed and wired a whole new kitchen, nearly always manage to fix plumbing, mechanical bits of machinery etc myself, because if it doesn't work, well it's not the end of the world then I'll get a pro in. On the boat the consequences seem potentially more dire and I become like Mr Bean. Still, every embarrassment is another lesson learned. One day...

 

[TonyBuckley]

I know. That's the trouble with lack of understanding, and everything is a bit scarier because it's a boat. At home I'll have a crack at anything - plumbed and wired a whole new kitchen, nearly always manage to fix plumbing, mechanical bits of machinery etc myself, because if it doesn't work, well it's not the end of the world then I'll get a pro in. On the boat the consequences seem potentially more dire and I become like Mr Bean. Still, every embarrassment is another lesson learned. One day...

I've been watching this thread with interest. Glad it is sorted and your mast is not about to come crashing down!

Everyone has to see that as a good result and I've picked up some info so all good imho.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Don't worry about it. You were concerned about something and got the answer. That's what the forum is all about. It's good to see it working at its best.

 

[sailor211]

Phew. Sailor 211 was right - a bit of wire that was used to attach a pre-feeder and which retracts when not in use. The feeder has just been cut off and the wires left in there. Forestay is fine. Wonder what'll be next! Mark

Excellent news, if the mast does fall down its not my fault! It's worth asking the question as someone wil have seen something similar before, and if the bits are missing you would not know there was a pre feeder. (I have been reminded of the polite term, which will please the wife)

 

[PhillM]

Don't worry about it. You were concerned about something and got the answer. That's what the forum is all about. It's good to see it working at its best.

+1 totally the spirit of the place.

There is no way I could have done my project without the support and wisdom of the forum.

Last night I spent two hours worrying about what I might have done (wrong) to my seacocks.

And a early morning ybw search, followed by a review of my work and tonight i should sleep. Mind you, I will be happier after launch on Thursday (or perhaps not!).

 

[stranded]

+1 totally the spirit of the place.

There is no way I could have done my project without the support and wisdom of the forum.

Last night I spent two hours worrying about what I might have done (wrong) to my seacocks.

And a early morning ybw search, followed by a review of my work and tonight i should sleep. Mind you, I will be happier after launch on Thursday (or perhaps not!).

Spot on. Having my own boat has been the best of year's, but the number of times the forum has provided reassurance when at times it has all seemed like a big mistake are too many to mention. Sometimes when I read the 'where has it all gone wrong' posts, while sharing the frustration about some of the more controversialist threads, I wonder how many people like me might have chucked it all in were it not for the shortcut to some degree at least of understanding that is available through here.