[C320-list] Oops! There goes the forestay

[Troy Dunn]

Wow, that’s crazy.   Glad you didn’t lose the rig.

I checked the stem a couple years ago and there was no sign of issues on
that part but definitely did not check that furler fitting.    So I guess I
gotta do that now.

Troy Dunn
Hull #514

On Thu, Aug 22, 2024 at 6:01 PM Mike Johnson via C320-list <
c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

> Jack thanks so much for this. I too will be checking this weekend.
>
> We need to get together sometime Jack! We’re in Treasure Island and
> regularly sail down to Gulfport area. Hope all is well!
>
> Mike Johnson
> Artemis
> #372
>
>
> > On Aug 22, 2024, at 5:30 PM, Ferris Wills via C320-list <
> c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >
> > Wow, that’s scary - Argo (#505) is a ‘98 too, I’m going to inspect that
> fitting before my next sail. Thx for the heads up!
> >
> > Ferris
> >
> > Typos by iPhone
> >
> >> On Aug 22, 2024, at 12:52 PM, Jack Brennan via C320-list <
> c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Just a quick recounting of a problem I had recently that might help
> someone else:
> >>
> >> I was sailing about 10 days ago in 20-plus-knot winds, jib only, when
> suddenly I heard a big boom. At first, I thought maybe I had
> absent-mindedly hit a channel marker. Then I saw the forestay with furler
> swinging through the air.
> >>
> >> Somehow, I got the spare halyard rigged as a brace before the mast came
> down. (Thanks to Catalina for three shrouds on each side!) Then I pulled in
> the sail and secured the furler before I made a slow, careful motor through
> choppy seas back to my slip.
> >>
> >> What broke was a heavy-duty toggle (I think that's what it's called) at
> the bottom of the furler that connects the forestay to the turnbuckle. It's
> hidden by the furling drum, so you can't casually inspect it.
> >>
> >> From the looks of it, it had crevice corrosion and had been working
> itself toward a massive failure for a couple of years. I had the boat
> rerigged six years ago, so it was fine then, but it was the original
> toggle, I believe.
> >>
> >> The rigger who fixed it told me that he has seen plenty of these
> toggles break over the years when they get old, so it might be worth a look
> sometime to prevent a disaster. From what I could tell, you loosen the drum
> and pull it up to get a look at the toggle.
> >>
> >> I'm really glad it happened in Tampa Bay, a couple of miles from the
> marina, instead of when I'm 30 miles offshore coming home from Key West.
> >>
> >> Jack Brennan
> >> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> >> Tierra Verde, Fl.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>