Split pins in rigging screws wisdom

Jaguar 25 said:
I've changed all my split pins for split rings, so nothing to catch the genoa.

I have heard that using split rings in rigging screws is frowned upon primarily because they can come off but I've never understood how this can happen and it has never happened to me (touch wood).
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I too thought split rings were a good idea... Until part way through the season I found a couple of them missing. Don't know where they went or how but I very quickly replaced them all with split pins.
 
It was never clear in this thread if OP was asking about split pins in clevis pins that attach the bottle screw to the chain plates. or the split pins in an open bottle screw that stop the screw from turning after adjustment.
In the first case a fairly permanent fix then yes bend split pins right back so they won't catch.
In the second case you can expect to have to adjust (tighten) the bottle screws after mast is installed and indeed after the first few voyages as everything settles in. In which case split rings or split pins with just a little opening to make removal and refit easier. Or use the velcro pins as in the video. or use lock wire.
Reminds me of a sweet little 18ft boat near mine that had a furled jib. In a storm the jib unfurled a little and the subsequent vibration shook the bottle screw in the forestay apart, mast crashed down doing a lot of damage. Apart from ruining the jib. So do attend to locking those turnscrews (bottle srews) olewill
 
My method of fitting split pins is to first bend them outward about 90° from half-way down the exposed length. Then bend them out again from the base until the sharp ends tuck in.

A man walks along the pavement wearing a vest, suspenders and pants. In the UK he is pervert, in the USA he is jay-walking.
 
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I lost a split ring on the windward shroud of my Wayfarer during a race. Incredible how far a mast will bend without snapping. Also impressive how quickly a motivated helm and crew can throw a boat through a surprise tack.
I still use split rings on that boat but make sure to always have them on the outside, where the sheets cannot rub and turn them.
 
VicS said:
I think I should have said clevis pins, not cotter pins. Cotter pins is what the Yanks call split pins IIRC)
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Just to be fully clarified, the rigging load is taken in shear by a clevis pin which is retained by a split pin[British notation] or a cotter pin [US notation]. To we Brits. a cotter pin is what used to be used to fix the bicycle crank to the bottom bracket spindle although it seems to have been replaced by a splined arrangement now. Returning to the original question, I use split pins but would prefer the ring version although I've heard that they are less secure ....any views anyone?
 
reeac said:
Just to be fully clarified, the rigging load is taken in shear by a clevis pin which is retained by a split pin[British notation] or a cotter pin [US notation]. To we Brits. a cotter pin is what used to be used to fix the bicycle crank to the bottom bracket spindle although it seems to have been replaced by a splined arrangement now. Returning to the original question, I use split pins but would prefer the ring version although I've heard that they are less secure ....any views anyone?
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I've had ring pins on blocks that have been caught (e.g. by a passing rope) and pulled straight i.e. no longer a captive ring.

Thus I would only use split pins on rigging clevis pins.
 
Another vote for monel wire. I have inherited my brother-in-law's locking wire twisting pliers (ex aviation industry) that put a neat controlled twist in the wire. No need to use tape.
Morgan
 
If you have ever had the misfortune to lose a mast at sea, you will have found how absolutely useless bolt croppers are (unless the wire is under tension all they do is crunch it up). To get rid of the mast you have to pull the split pins. bent right round and taped takes forever to undo. pushed through and opened up about 30 degrees and they are easily pulled with pliers. This of course is at the end of the bottle screw not the ones in the middle which prevent it from turning.

Chris
 
+1 for split rings. Why anyone reuses spit pin except in an emergency is beyond me.
The rings also make it easy to make adjustments.
I don't tape mine; just put them on the side that's out of harms way and on the rear facing sides of the chain plates so they are always in view.
 
Bav32 said:
+1 for split rings. Why anyone reuses spit pin except in an emergency is beyond me.
The rings also make it easy to make adjustments.
I don't tape mine; just put them on the side that's out of harms way and on the rear facing sides of the chain plates so they are always in view.
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I've use rings, and inspect them regularly. I've only twice found problems: once this year when I found the the bottom one on the forestay was a bit mangled (caught by a mooring rope, probably) and once on my last boat when I found that some cad had stolen several of them. Not quite the thing, I thought. A bit low.
 
I wouldn't be very impressed with a riggers work if he left split pins so they could catch on anything.
I'd be wondering what else he hadn't done properly?
 
BlueChip said:
I wouldn't be very impressed with a riggers work if he left split pins so they could catch on anything.
I'd be wondering what else he hadn't done properly?
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You'd love the last so-called rigger I used. The split pins were bent ... but were so small that they could go right through the hole in the turnbuckle. Guess who I won't be recommending.
 
We got fed up with split pins, (fiddly. sail-ripping, tape-needing bastard things)-tried rings but lost some, so now use Monel wire, NO tape, and inspect frequently.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I've use rings, and inspect them regularly. I've only twice found problems: once this year when I found the the bottom one on the forestay was a bit mangled (caught by a mooring rope, probably) and once on my last boat when I found that some cad had stolen several of them. Not quite the thing, I thought. A bit low.
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+1 for rings. Just check them regularly
 
Had rings on Kindred Spirit, and have seen them both straightened out and (in other cases) rotated until they disengaged and fell out. At least on that boat we had redundancy in the rig so that no single wire was essential to holding the mast up.

I would not fit rings on a yacht now.

Pete
 
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