Can You Identify this Insulator ?

[cburger]

This insulator came off my boats backstay when I took the mast down for a complete re-rig with new wire. The fittings were all Norseman and reused with the new wire. My two part question is as follows, does anyone recognize the manufacturer of this insulator and considering the insulators appear visually to be in very good condition would you have any problem re-using them even if you didn’t know the date of the initial installation?

[capn_billl]

You can always, ohm across it, or have someone with a hipot check it.

Oh by the way how did you get the picture inline with the post?

[cburger]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

You can always, ohm across it, or have someone with a hipot check it.

Oh by the way how did you get the picture inline with the post?

Was concerned about the structual integrity of the insulator.

The manage attachments tab allows you to upload pictures.

[skipmac]

Externally I would inspect the eyes, toggles and pins as I would a regular terminal, either by polishing and checking with a magnifying glass or with a dye test.

Most insulating terminals I believe are made to fail safe. That is, if the ceramic cracks the internal structure will still hold the fitting together. Without knowing the brand the only way to check that (other than smashing it apart ) would be to X-ray the fitting.

[cburger]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Externally I would inspect the eyes, toggles and pins as I would a regular terminal, either by polishing and checking with a magnifying glass or with a dye test.

Most insulating terminals I believe are made to fail safe. That is, if the ceramic cracks the internal structure will still hold the fitting together. Without knowing the brand the only way to check that (other than smashing it apart ) would be to X-ray the fitting.

I thought that only the Hi-Mods where fail safe. While the fittings look great, they could potentially be 20 years old and was hoping someone could identify so I could call the company.

[cburger]

Surprised non of the CF members can identify these insulators.

[hellosailor]

cb-
I'd be suspicious of any part that had no logo, no brand, no ID on it. I won't even buy a two-penny nail without a brand name on it. No, wait, I'll buy nails without a brand name.

But something like an insulator, ought to have some markings on it. Repeated shock loads, internal microcracks, UV degradation...and a backstay being sometimes considered a fairly critical piece of rigging...

Yeah, I'd say keep looking for a vendor to confirm if it is fail-safe. Or have an xray done on the cheap if you can? Probably cheaper to replace it, and better sleep at night.

[cburger]

I was surpised that there is no markings on the insulators, previous owner used highest quality hardware throughout.

[cal40john]

Looks just like the ones I took off my boat. Didn't have a brand on it, didn't know the age, and the end pieces of the insulator looked sun damaged. I too assumed they would all be fail safe, but was told they weren't. Since one or two companies hype fail safe in their ads I believe it. I liked the fail safe version that was on the Cal 34 I used to sail on. It used the glass egg strain insulators.

Glass Strain Insulators

The grooves at 90 degrees kept the wires apart and if the egg failed the eyes in the wire rope were looped together so you would only lose some rig tension. And I bet it's a lot cheaper than custom made boat stuff.

John

Backstay insulator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Cheechako]

they are familiar but i dont know who made them. ask a rigger?

[cburger]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

they are familiar but i dont know who made them. ask a rigger?

I have tried to find images on the net to no avail, only so many companies making them you wouldn't think it would be this difficult.

[Cheechako]

Yeah, even if they are Arco or Navtek or whatever, they are probably different now then they were then. Tough call... they are probably glassfilled nylon or something like that?