Forstay / Furler pin

[Harrison]

My forstay/furler pin was looking a little beat-up after a couple of years of use, so I decided to get a new clevis pin. Bought a ¼” pin as I thought I’d fit. Wrong. So I got a 3/16” thinking my memory is really going (sucks getting old). Wrong!

Is the factory pin an odd size or should I drill out the hole on the furler? If I drill, we’re talking about a slight reaming of the hole. The ¼ pin I got will just barely fit now.

Thoughts?
---Harrison

[Catigale]

Its a 6mm pin, which is slightly undersize for the 1/4 inch as you found.

A 1/4 inch drill will go through the hole in 2 seconds and then the 1/4 inch will fit...

[Frank C]

CAn't say why, exactly, but Roger uses 6mm, just a hair less than 1/4".
Many owners just overdrill the forestay tab. It's in the archives.

[Harrison]

Thanks guys. I'll be drilling tonight

---Harrison

[Trouts Dream]

As a Canadian I understand why Macgregor uses a metric pin. As you know we are completely metric now up here in Canada. Now I have to get back to nailing my 2x4 frame for my 4x8 sheets of drywall so I can go golfing (I usually drive the ball 200 yds but miss those 8" putts).

[waternwaves]

When I am up there, I still miss by a mile, and take up my 5 imperial gallon tank, cook with a 12 quart stock pot, and have a cup of coffee...


yep......
I'm metric up thar..

[David Mellon]

I drilled mine out too, I was really surprised to find out here that it is metric.

[JonBill]

I drilled mine out last weekend at 1/4" to insert the BWY super duper 1/4" pin - you get two of these super duper head stay pins with their quick rig kit. It took all of a 3 seconds to drill it out. As a reminder Oil should always be used when drilling on metal. A shot of wd40 on fitting and drill bit will work fine for this small job.

Kind Regards,
JonBill

So I guess this makes me a 'Deck Hand' again. Oh darn!

[R Rae]

Drilled my tab out two weeks ago and installed a standard S/S 1/4 " bolt with washers and a nylock nut. Now I can rest easy. I was never comfortable with the ring ding dooie as at times the ring ding would be up tight against the tab. It actually had got to the point of elongating the hole through the 6mm dia. pin, something people should be checking periodically.

Today, I discovered what I thought was a neat way to remove forestay tension when either putting up, or taking down the mast. I loosened off my backstay wire, then brought it around to the front of the boat. I stuck a screwdriver through one of the holes in the vernier plate as a kind of handle and pulled. The forestay slackened off real nice no sweat. All of a sudden, it became a one man job.

Ron

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Thanks guys. I'll be drilling tonight

---Harrison

I will be doing the same. I had no idea it was a 6mm.

[Trav White]

I bought the "intake valve" pins from BWY last year, but they wouldn't fit. So they are still in the bag. Now I know. I'll be drilling soon.

[Catigale]

Ron - that sounds neat. Does this mean the backstay just reaches to the plate and you can use a screwdriver as a lever to tension the forestay?

That sounds perfect!

(Sorry owners..... )

[R Rae]

Catigale,

Actually the backstay plus vernier plate is too long to allow screwdriver leverage on the front tab. I don't think you'll find leverage to be an issue here. With my scrawny 155lb frame I only leaned back whilst pulling the backstay and had sufficient slack on an otherwise normally taut forestay.

Also I found that with a suitable piece of line I could tie off the backstay to the top rung of trailer ladder (using a truckers knot) and was able to mess about with the forestay quite comfortably and safely.

Ron

[Frank C]

Since I inserted a 4:1 tackle into my backstay, your trick is too much trouble for me.

But it seems from here that leverage IS playing the key factor. Your trick permits leverage at the very masthead, even greater advantage than the jib halyard which is 4 feet lower than that.

I'd watch it closely though, to avoid kinking or bending that chicken-head (?) on aft-side of the masthead.

[pokerrick1]

Thanks guys. I'll be drilling tonight

I will be doing the same. I had no idea it was a 6mm.

i HOPE to be doing the same - - - but with a tad more than 6mm

Rick