Forestay Turnbuckle Failure!!!

delevi · Post by **delevi** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:47 pm

Tried adjusting my rig… forestay turnbuckle and it flat-out failed! Came within a ½ second reflex of losing my mast. No kidding. Was cranking the turnbuckle and pop! The lower bolt just ripped all the thread out of the turnbuckle and the headstay detached... mast going down. Just caught the forestay with one hand as the mast pulled hard aft and to the side. Put my whole body into it to stop the momentum, pull it forward and get it somewhat straight. Did I mention it was blowing about 25 knots? Yes the boat was on the trailer. Fortunately, the mast raising pole was in place but the line which attaches to the bow cleat not attached. Held forestay in one hand, reached for the line of the mast raiser with the other… barely enough length to reach the cleat.. no way could I have reached the winch from where I was to slack the line. Barely saved the day. Went to West Marine to buy a replacement turnbluckle and one bolt.. fortunately not the end swaged to the forestay cable. Scary how something like that can fail outright without warning. Was actually a blessing in disguise. Imagine that happening on the water. Yikes!

Not really sure if there's a moral to this story. I don't see how I could have prevented this. The trubluckle resides inside the furler drum and isn't visible. Even if it was, the failure was in the thread which is impossible to inspect without unscrewing the whole thing. Part of the risks we take I suppose. Still cringing at the notion of this happening at sea in a strong blow or motoring at speed.

Leon

bastonjock · Post by **bastonjock** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:01 pm

wow delvi you were lucky there,as a safety back up i take the line from the top of the mast and fix it to the pullpit (or is it pushpit) at the front,one of my mods is going to be a second forestay

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:56 am

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:58 am

That drumming sound I hear today is 1000 Mac owners running out to inspect their forestay turnbuckle today....

Glad you are safe Leon

Post by **NiceAft** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:59 am

Leon,

I read your post and now I'm just sitting here in shock! I'm thinking, how many back up systems is it reasonable to have? Is bastonjock's idea of a back up forestay correct, or over reaction? Was there anything that could have been done differently?

I'm also envisioning you with one hand on the forestay while the other is stretcccchhhhing for the line of the mast raiser.

Sorry, but it is a funny thought. What would Shakespeare have written? "O. good sir, softly, good sir! I fear, sir, my shoulder blade is out." [The Winter's Tale, IV/iii]

Seriously. I'm glad you were not hurt.

Ray

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:07 am

Just thinking out loud here. It might be smart to put two nuts on the ends of the turnbuckle threads so that if the threads fail, the nuts will catch the forestay from falling completely. Hmmmm

Post by **NiceAft** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:25 am

Is there enough room to do that with the turnbuckle being inside the drum?

Ray

c130king · Post by **c130king** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:32 am

Has anyone got pictures of this turnbuckle inside the furler drum? I have never seen one.

I have a CDI Furler (FF2 I think) and I have to admit I have never raised the drum and checked the turnbuckle. There a few knots (furling line and I guess a line/knot that acts as a tack) in the way and I have never taken the genoa off the furler.

Can one do this while the mast is up and the genoa is on the furler? Can it be done while the genoa is furled? Or is this something easier done while the mast is down?

I guess I will figure this out and check the turnbuckle next time I get back to my boat.

Thanks,
Jim

bastonjock · Post by **bastonjock** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:54 am

Catigale wrote:That drumming sound I hear today is 1000 Mac owners running out to inspect their forestay turnbuckle today....

Glad you are safe Leon

hows your progress stephen on the second furler/forestay? im moving my forestay up 6inches and fitting one of those thingummyjigs at the front instead of the forestay wrestle

ive always thought that a back up tp the forestay was a great idea,there was one other guy on the forum who had the whole rig come crashing down,his admiral no longer likes to sail as a result,and i could not forgive myself if it camedown and hit one of my 3 women.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:00 am

Jim

You really have to check this turnbuckle routinely (I do mine monthly or at anchor on a long trip) - if for some reason the turnbuckle gets hung up it will spin with the furler and unwind...not good.

You pull the pin from the drum, and push the drum up to inspect - can be done with mast up. Just make sure the cotter pins are all in place and behaving themselves.

I did install a second forestay but dont routinely sail with it on unless I know I want the jib (hanked on) or storm sail

If you cleat off the furler line that will give some hope of keeping your mast up in case of forestay failure too.

Hardcrab · Post by **Hardcrab** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:22 am

To add to Catigale's post:
After you push up the drum, have a "Vise Grip" pliers standing by to lightly squeeze and hold the swagged end of the forestay. This does two jobs at once. First, it holds the drum "up" to free up your hands. Secondly, it keeps the shroud from twisting if/when you adjust the turnbuckle.

The jamb nut idea might work fine if one can find a left hand threaded nut for at least one end of the turnbuckle. They must be available somewhere.

I'm glad everything turned out okay, and many thanks for the heads up.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:51 am

I haven't put it on yet but I have my new forestay ready for installation with the new Snapfurl, just waiting for the sails to get finished. The new 5/32 forestay comes with a new 5/16 turnbuckle which is substantially beefier than the OEM 1/4 turnbuckle. I kinda thought the OEM looked anemic alongside the next size up 5/16, now after hearing Leon's story it is confirmed. Glad the rig shop convinced me to replace the whole thing and have a spare.
Leon, you better have a good close look at your mast base plate for twist. I know it sounds improbable but one day after returning from the dealer the rigger had re-done some work and left my babystays off. I did not know (I leave them permanently on) and went about raising my mast in the driveway when low and behold the mast went swinging out to port. I quickly grabbed it and it only went over the port a few feet but it was enough to severely twist that heavy SS base plate so I had to replace it. Amazing how little it takes to twist that plate but then again you are using 30' of leverage.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:25 am

The jamb nut idea might work fine if one can find a left hand threaded nut for at least one end of the turnbuckle. They must be available somewhere.

Down under, of course.

James V · Post by **James V** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:39 am

You could drill a hole through the threads and put a pin or SS wire through.

delevi · Post by **delevi** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:35 am

It might be smart to put two nuts on the ends of the turnbuckle threads so that if the threads fail, the nuts will catch the forestay from falling completely. Hmmmm

Great idea Steph. Only problem is that the end of each bolt has a hole for the cotter pin. Suppose the nuts can be threaded on first, wound past the holes and then the pins installed. I don't see a problem with the furler clearing.

Terry,
My 5/32 forestay uses a 1/4" swage bolt. I think the rig shop did that so I could re-use the stock turnbuckle. I was concerned that a larger one may not fit inside the CDI FF2 drum. The new one looks just like the old one

Highlander's cutter rig is starting to look more and more attractive.

Be safe,
L.

MacGregorSailors.com

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Forestay Turnbuckle Failure!!!

Forestay Turnbuckle Failure!!!