temporarily removing forestay

[skyflyer]

I may need to remove my forestay (well, de-tension it, to be precise) to access the attachment plate underneath for a small repair.

Common sense would indicate that i should reduce tension bit by bit on forestay and backstay until their is slack in both

My question is, (a) is there any need to slacken any of the shrouds (I have upper, intermediate and fore and aft lower shrouds) and (b) do I need proper rig tuning when I re-tension the two stays or do i simply do up the bottle screws by the same number of turns that I undid them (bit by bit, equally, of course)

Thanks

 

[theoldsalt]

When I removed my forestay to replace the jib furling top swivel I did not touch the other stays. I used a couple of halyards set up tight to hold the mast. Then climbed the mast to detatch the forestay lowering it to the deck. That was on a 31' boat.

 

[Birdseye]

I did the same as the old salt, though it did tighten my sphincter to be at the top of the mast with just the halyards holding it and mobo wash! That said I dont like the sound of "small repair to the attachment plate" - that was what I fastened my halyards to. The mountings for cleats for example arent designed to take vertical loads.

Rig tuning - that a DIY job and easy if time consuming. The start point is the same number of turns on the bottle screws.

 

[bbg]

I did the same as the old salt, though it did tighten my sphincter to be at the top of the mast with just the halyards holding it and mobo wash! That said I dont like the sound of "small repair to the attachment plate" - that was what I fastened my halyards to. The mountings for cleats for example arent designed to take vertical loads.

Rig tuning - that a DIY job and easy if time consuming. The start point is the same number of turns on the bottle screws.

Even better to mark the bottle screws with masking tape to make sure it is re-tightened to the same place exactly.

 

[skyflyer]

I dont like the sound of "small repair to the attachment plate" - that was what I fastened my halyards to.

Correct; a friend with the same boat had the tang (not sure of the proper term but the bow equivalent of a chain plate) to which the forestay is attached, break off, narrowly avoiding losing his mast. Some research on the owners association site and that for similar models shows this is not an isolated problem. It is difficult to inspect for cracks because it is enclosed, the furler drum is above it and the fittings, clevis pins etc obscure the area where the crack is likely to be.

A photo of the sheared off surface, which shows rust stains near a part where another gusset plate is welded to it indicates that some small imperfection has probably been the start point for crevice corrosion which has progressed over years with the crack developing until the remaining cross sectional area could no longer take the load.

So to inspect mine I need to be able to slacken the forestay enough to remove the end that fits to the deck and have a good look. There may or may not be a crack there and if its only small a weld repair may be possible in situ. But until I inspect it I can't tell!

I was hoping, on re-tensioning the bottle screws that no sophisticated tuning would be necessary - just put everything back where it was!

This is the part on a similar model - so no - i don't want to use halyards attached to that

 

[PabloPicasso]

Do you have a fractional or masthead rig? If fractional you will need to ease the shrouds a good bit. Maybe need to on masthead also but might not be so critical

Take more than one halyard down to secure instead of the forestay

Getting fittings off is relatively easy

Re-tensioning enough to get the forestay back on can be difficult SO MAKE SURE HALYARDS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, IF IN DOUBT REPLACE!

Don't ask me how I know! But fortunately it was not on my boat

 

[PabloPicasso]

Another option is to raft up between two pals boats and support your mast from theirs. Usually done bow to stern to avoid Spreaders clashing. Yacht charter companies do it often to avoid crane fees.

Just get plenty of pals to help.

It'll be your round once the job is done.

 

[Fantasie 19]

More to the point, are you ashore or afloat???

 

[PabloPicasso]

I assumed afloat. If so make sure pals boats have bigger rig than yours.

I did mine ashore and tied halyards to a substantial concrete fence in front of the bow. But be careful not to pull the boat over if you do this

 

[l'escargot]

...But be careful not to pull the boat over if you do this

I hesitate to ask how you know to give that advice...