{"id":1329,"date":"1999-11-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1999-11-30T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=1329"},"modified":"2015-10-16T12:15:05","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T17:15:05","slug":"rod-rigging-fatigue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/rod-rigging-fatigue\/","title":{"rendered":"Rod Rigging Fatigue"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hello Steve, I have a decision to make now on my new rig. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I have a brand new carbon fibre spar. It is 56′ long, double spreaders with discontinuous rod standing rigging. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The shrouds terminate with stemballs in the spreader bars (i.e. no tangs in the spar except for the cap shrouds). <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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? <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I want to sail across an ocean (and back) some time in the next few years or so. – Ryan <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"