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Noticed back stay on Night Cap has a broken strand. How serious is this? Wire is rusty in places and this applies to the other rigging also. Where is the rigging most likely to fail......attachment point to mast, wire, turnbuckles, swage points or chainplates? I checked a few of the chainplates and would appreciate your input. They appear to all (or mostly) be u-bolts and the ones I checked were dirty and rusty, which makes me think, clean and refit or replace. Are TH chainplates a problem area, Are these standard size s/s u-bolts and hopefully not too expensive. My thinking is to sort out the chain plates myself and then get standing rigging replaced.
Has anyone replaced/cleaned, checked and refitted chainplates. I would imagine it would be possible to remove chainplates one at a time and clean/replace/refit, without the mast ending up horizontal.

Thanks, john

Hi John,
I had mine checked about a year ago, the rigger said that the u-bolt style chain plates may look good on the outside, but because stainless will rust if it is enclosed in a damp area, the part of the u-bolt that is encased through the deck may rust and should be checked. He also said you shouldn't paint the nuts or washers either, as the moisture can be trapped in the paint and cause rust, which is what has happened to mine.

I haven't tried it, but it should be easy enough to do one at a time with the mast up. A job for when I get time I guess.

Michael

Hi guys

I'd start thinking about a renewing the standing rigging .It most likely fail at the turnbuckle due to the moisture running into the turnbuckle. Depending on what gauge wire you have too comes into the equation .I removed Egret II's chain plates / u bolts and cleaned them up only because the nuts had started to corrode . I found the actual u bolts in good nick .like I said before ,Egret II has heavy rigging and I guess quality s/s wire
but her running wire needs replacing before summer.

Regarding replacing the u bolts( Ronstan) or cleaning etc lowers not a problem . The only thing I would do is when doing the uppers I would tie the main halyard or spinnaker halyard to the lower u bolt as a temporary shroud.

Any rigger should be able to make new standing and running rigging for you .If you are able to do the mast yourself it's a simple job and it will a lot cheaper if you can do it yourself

Cheers Bear

Rebuilt Egret II 18 months ago

Measured the rigging on Night Cap on Friday. Very interesting all rigging is 3.3mm, except backstay which is 4.4 mm, with 3.3mm bridle. THs usually have 3/16 inch wire, which is 4.76mm. So even the backstay at 4.4mm is thinner and bridle is down to 3.3mm. Is there any chance this is original wire and maybe years ago it was stronger?? What is best 304 or 316, also is there different quality, depending on where the wire is made?