Replacing turnbuckles in-situ

[chris-s]

I want to replace the turnbuckles on my rigging as they weren’t changed when the previous owners had the standing rigging replaced a few years back plus one has some damage.

So, we have two shrouds per side, a single backstay and a babystay. The boat is a 33’ Beneteau which is currently ashore.

The question I have is whether I should slacken all the rigging first or slacken opposite shrouds or something different.

Chris

 

[greeny]

Personally, I'd just change the babystay, no issues. Then slacken uppers, inners and backstay to remove most of the tension and change the screws one at a time. If you're worried, then use the main halyard to substitute for the one you're changing but I wouldn't bother except for maybe the backstay. Next step is to re tension correctly, but I assume you have the knowledge to do that? If not then you may as well get a rigger or someone else to tune your rig and change out the screws at the same time.

 

[RJJ]

If I understand the rig correctly, you say there are two shrouds per side, so two independent turnbuckles. This makes it a pretty low risk move, the mast will stay up with the lowers and forestay/backstay alone AS LONG AS the fore/aft tension is unwound.

What I would do:
- unwind both cap shrouds until the last three turns or so each side.
- wind the main halyard onto the midships cleat. Or to a line spreading the load between midships and aft cleat. Or around the hull to the spine of the cradle. This is very belt-and braces as the lowers remain in place.
- de tension the backstay
- release and fix the cap shroud on the side you have the main halyard; then swap sides.
- put a little tension on the caps, then do the lowers.

From a tuning perspective, I assume you are replacing like for like.

I can't see why there should be any issue with being ashore....but probably wise to check with the yard.

 

[Poignard]

When I used to lay up my boat at Emsworth Yacht Harbour masts had to be taken down.

On relaunching, the mast was lifted in and, to minimise time spent on the crane pontoon, the yardmen would attach the forestay and the two after lower shrouds only. You then motored across to an empty berth where you, or your rigger, would attach the rest of the standing rigging.

 

[William_H]

My little boat has similar shroud arrangement albeit fractional with no baby forestay. I had a few years back a turn buckle fail in the threaded part of upper shroud. I was under sail on a reach and would have expected the mast to snap off. Managed to tack immediately and sailed back to mooring. Had a spare turn buckle and replaced it no trouble didn't even loosen other side shroud. (still managed to make race start.) The threaded part of bottom had bent a little (in mast raising) and fatigue set in to threads.
Anyway to OP just replace turn buckles one at a time no worries with no sail up. Hopefully not much wind. ol'will