Hello Steve, I have a decision to make now on my new rig.
I have a brand new carbon fibre spar. It is 56′ long, double spreaders with discontinuous rod standing rigging.
The shrouds terminate with stemballs in the spreader bars (i.e. no tangs in the spar except for the cap shrouds).
The shroud stemballs cannot be removed while the spreaders are in place, which means that if I had a shroud problem, it would be impossible to change while the mast is standing.
Navtec has a part which is a stemball with a marine eye on the other end. This means I could have forks on the ends of the shrouds, which are pinned to the stemball eyes, which are embedded in the spreader bars. This would allow me to change a broken shroud while under way.
My question is: Should I bother? With rod rigging, are there signs of fatigue, like with meat hooks etc. in wire? If I broke a shroud, say a D3 or V2 or D2, or something, would the spar already be broken and changing the shroud is now meaningless? Obviously if a V1 broke, the mast would snap instantly, so we don’t have to talk about that. More clearly stated: is there any circumstance that would prompt me to want to replace a rod shroud while away from a harbour and a mast crane?
The stemball eyes would likely add maybe 2 or three pounds to the rig, and add the complexity of a dozen extra bits and pieces.
I want to sail across an ocean (and back) some time in the next few years or so. – Ryan
Navtec have fatigue indicating fittings, or they used to. I would not use rod without this. In general, I have not been a rod fan for all the reasons you mentioned. If you are crossing oceans, make sure they have higher than normal factors of safety. – Steve
Posted by Steve Dashew (November 30, 1999)
August 4th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Question;
When reaching with the spinaker, many racers lash the reaching strut to the upper rod stays. Is this practice acceptable or dangerous as it can place a side load on the rod.
[Reply]
Steve Dashew Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 3:21 am
Bill:
Point loading with the reaching strut cannot be good for the rod, but the large diameter of the extrusion will mitigate to some degree. Best to check with someone like Navtec for a definitive word.
[Reply]