[C320-list] Oops! There goes the forestay

[P.F. Ross]

Ferris,

A few years ago, I wanted to adjust my headstay tension and so had to move
my Schaefer roller furling out of the way to do it.

I followed the Schaefer manual and as I recall, it was not a bad job.
Biggest chore was removing the jib.

You will also need to support the furling assembly higher on the forestay
while you inspect/adjust.  Can't exactly remember how I did this, perhaps
just a hose clamp on the forestay to keep the furler in place or maybe even
some rigging tape.

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206

On Sat, Aug 24, 2024 at 8:50 PM Ferris Wills via C320-list <
c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

> It’s a Schaefer 2200 on #505.
>
> Is this issue at all related to the stem head fitting failure discussed
> here: https://c320.org/article.php/2015stemfailure ?
>
> Also, what’s the easiest way to inspect? I read through the Schaefer docs
> and it looks like a real pain to get a look at the head stay turnbuckle and
> related fittings.
>
> Thx,
> Ferris
>
> Typos by iPhone
>
> > On Aug 23, 2024, at 2:05 PM, John Brennan via C320-list <
> c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >
> > 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.
> >
>