[C320-list] Oops! There goes the forestay

[John Brennan]

It's a Schaefer 1100, I believe.

I was talking to the rigger today when he was going up the mast for me for an LED anchor light. He said he thought the problem was that Schaefer incorrectly welded the pin that connects the two U-shaped brackets.

He said too high a heat weakens the steel at the point of the weld, which makes sense. The chainplate and other steel parts were fine, but the area around the weld cracked.

He thinks it took years for the fitting to break after it started cracking. That also makes sense. It's thick steel.

I'm sure the sailing I've done didn't help, either. I've had the occasional jibe and racked up a lot of miles in winds of more than 20 knots.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Ian Neale via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 4:34 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Cc: Ian Neale <kiwineales at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Oops! There goes the forestay

Hi what furler system was on the boat Jack a Schafer system?

I have an 07 boat and wonder if Catalina changed to system over the years?

Thanks, Ian Neale.

Solutions 1122.
Sent from. my iPhone

> On 24 Aug 2024, at 7:59 AM, Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Here's what it looked like.
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: SARA SCHROEDER <wanderingstar951 at comcast.net>
> Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 11:41 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>; Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> Cc: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Oops! There goes the forestay
>
> Checked mine tonight and all appears to be good. However, since our boats are only two years apart it's getting replaced.  Thanks Jack and so glad your experience and wisdom got you home safely.
>
> Sara
> Wandering Star
> Seattle
> #707/2000
>
>> On 08/22/2024 4:29 PM PDT Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Re-reading my original post, I need to make one correction. The toggle is between the chainplate and the forestay, not the turnbuckle.
>>
>> Jack Brennan
>> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
>> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>> ________________________________
>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 3:50 PM
>> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>> Cc: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
>> Subject: [C320-list] Oops! There goes the forestay
>>
>> 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.