ok so im not out of line thinking of it I like the idea of it, but don't want to make a bone head choice to make the mast come down ! I didn't want to become a Darwin Awards nomanee! Might have to give it a try!
I like the idea of it on the forestay/roller furler too!
Those spreader bolts and nuts are quite tight. You won't achieve this with pins, so the spreader tubes may have some play. My personal opionion is NO GO. If you do use a pin, I would use a ring ding with rigging tape to ensure the pin doesn't pop out. That latch isn't very strong and can open up under load. Just my 1.95 cents worth.
The pin you're seeing is available from Bill @ boats4sail. I prefer the BWY pin with ring ding instead of the swing latch. Same size of pin. I do have both, but they're only for the forestay, not for spreaders. While in the forestay, whichever pin is in use is taped.
Retcoastie wrote:Those pins are used all over farm machinery. Check your local farm supply place.
My experience is the spring is very tight. There is little danger of them coming loose, especially in a static situation.
I would fear their strength in the forestay. I'll stick with the pin and ringding.
I use them to keep my snowplow on my truck, so they must work well.
You would need a lot of effort to unlatch it, then pop it up and out..at least on the spreaders.
I use the BWY pin on the forstay now, works well. I just don't see how they could come undone and pop out and have the spreader fall down. But I am being good asking!
I am thinking of pelican hooks on the lifelines instead. Just release them and let them hang low where the spreaders are . Once the mast is down pull them up and around the spreader and re-attach. Seems to be an easier fix in my head
I use regular stainless steel pins with ring-dings to hold the spreaders on. The holes had to be drilled out just a tad larger to accept the pin. Of course, put the pin in from the top so gravity is on your side.
I believe the captive pins with the half circle or rectangle wire clips as used by farm equipment and as supplied by Bill in Oconomowoc are not stainless steel, but galvanized. They are used on the rudders to positively retain hold-up for trailering.
Last edited by ALX357 on Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
I'm not even sure they are galvanized. You see them twice each trip so corrision is not a problem. They are so cheap, if they rust up, throw them away and get new ones.
I have never replaced one, on the boat or the farm that I remember.
I use the same pin to attach the boom to the mast and it has worked well for 10 years. I'm on my second one due to the rust which was unsightly and not a structural issue. I may look into using them on the spreaders when I decide to remove them instead of letting them bend...
I like the idea of it, but don't want to make a bone head choice to make the mast come down ! I didn't want to become a Darwin Awards nomanee! Might have to give it a try!
