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Old 19-06-2019, 04:08   #1
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Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

Ok, the other day I noticed that i have a broken strand on my front rig, the one on the beam in front. I will replace it as soon as possible but the rigger i know is not available till next month. Would you feel safe to sail anyways or i should avoid going out before i get the replacement?
Here some pictures where you can see the broken strand.
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Old 19-06-2019, 04:12   #2
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by riki View Post
Ok, the other day I noticed that i have a broken strand on my front rig, the one on the beam in front. I will replace it as soon as possible but the rigger i know is not available till next month. Would you feel safe to sail anyways or i should avoid going out before i get the replacement?
Here some pictures where you can see the broken strand.
Cheers





I would spend the month doing any little odd jobs on the boat and refrain from going out.
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Old 19-06-2019, 04:51   #3
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

so, on the one hand, usually, these are designed with a safety factor of absolute minimum 1.5:1 (and up to 4:1 depending on conservativism of the designer/client). So that means there 'should be' at the very least 50% extra strength - meaning 'in theory' you could have 6 strands broken on a 1x19 wire and still be 'just ok if you sail carefully minimizing shock loading).

But on the other hand, who knows if the designers did their calculations correct - yachting is notorious for underestimating shock loads. And who knows what is going on inside that swag terminal given the outside looks pretty ugly.

You probably already really know this in your gut - bottom line, it would probably be ok to sail (a bit more carefully than usual) but it would definitely be increased risk - and only you can judge whether that is worth it.

There are Dyneema options you could do yourself to either temporarily (or permanently) replace or backup that wire - which would reduce the extra risk. If you showed us the actual ends of the wire so we could see the fittings it is attached to, we could give some detail on how to do this.
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Old 19-06-2019, 05:02   #4
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

You can see the corrosion coming out around the swage fitting. One strand broke and the others could be ready to go anytime from crevice corrosion. I'd not sail it and be real leery about the rest of that wires strength and the rest of your standing rig as well. If one is corroded odds are the rest are as well. Time for replacements if it were my boat.
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Old 19-06-2019, 05:11   #5
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

i would get it replaced before sailing
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Old 19-06-2019, 05:19   #6
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

The cost for not sailing until it is replaced is small - sailing days not experienced, but more to come, and the price, while not terribly likely, is large - having your rig collapse when a gust gives you a shock load. In risk management, that's a don't do it. It's like not wearing your seatbelt. You're not likely to get into an accident, but if you do....
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Old 19-06-2019, 05:22   #7
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

Why do you have to wait for a rigger? Just measure the pin to pin length and go to a rigging shop and have them make up a new stay (should only take them a dday or 2 at most), bring back to the boat and install it? This isn't really that hard.
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Old 19-06-2019, 07:45   #8
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

Having been dismasted on my friends boat
due to a stupid decision to go out with a
similar “broken strand” ( lower shroud)
I’d stay put and fix it or have it fixed
Now a follow up question for the riggers and
scientist types
I have been told that when a strand breaks
like the one in the picture, the decrease in strength
comes from the fact that the swage becomes
compromised and that the rig comes down
because the cable pulls out as opposed to
actually parting. This is what happened to
us which caused the mast to come down
Comments please
would like to understand the physics
cheers
neil
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Old 19-06-2019, 07:53   #9
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

You can also make your own forestay with swageless fittings like these. Some say they are better because they don't pinch the wire.
https://www.defender.com/category.js...-1|118|2358509
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Old 19-06-2019, 08:02   #10
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

I'd get a piece of 1/4" dyneema and put an eye splice in each end (or even a bowline). Make it about 4" shorter than the wire. Get some thin dyneema cord (1/16" is 1000lb breaking) and make a multipart lashing between the dyneema eyes and the clevis pin or turnbuckles. Pull the lashing tight.

If the wire parts, this will be more than strong enough to support the rig until you get to port.

After you get it fixed, keep the dyneema for something else.
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Old 19-06-2019, 08:03   #11
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

What do you think the rest of the rig looks like?
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Old 19-06-2019, 08:15   #12
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

I would be VERY serious about inspecting the rest of the rigging, including the masthead. If this strand is bad, it is likely others are as well.
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Old 19-06-2019, 09:16   #13
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

With so many cruising cats being operated near, at or over the designer's load limit. Park it. Measure both bridles (if one is bad, likely the other is soon to fail) eye-to-eye, take the measurements a rigging shop and order replacements. If you haven't replaced standing rigging before, hire a rigger. Watch and ask questions. No question is stupid. If you are in a marina, using a rigger may be required to protect adjacent boats from a falling mast.
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Old 19-06-2019, 09:28   #14
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

Hi folks, thanks for chiming in, all opinions very well appreciatred.
As for the rest of the riggingit has already been inspected by the rigger and there are no problems and has already been partially replaced.
I am tempted to change the rig myself but i am not sure about how to proceed concerned specially about the pressure the beam receives from the standing rig of the genoa. I'll try to explain better: once i loose the rig that i have to change i'm afraid that the rig of the genoa will pull the alluminium beam......or i am wrong on this one?
Very simply: do you think that it's just a matter of taking off the old rig and replace it or should i be aware about other details?
Cheers
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Old 19-06-2019, 09:29   #15
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Re: Broken strand on my front rig, looking for opinions.

I had a similar broken strand I decided to ignore for the moment. 12 hours later (at about 3 in the morning) while in the middle of the Pacific on my way from Tonga to Hawaii, I lost the backstay in relatively benign conditions.

Do not raise sail until you replace your forestay.
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