Mast & Rigging

We've made quite a few changes to the mast and the rigging. We wanted to increase the height of the boom, so Elliot made a mast-step to raise the whole rig.

Next we re-wired the whole mast and put new lights on and a new wind instrument. We also installed ABI folding mast steps, spaced so Elliot is comfortable climbing all the way up.

We also installed an extra sail track, for a storm main sail. We replaced all the halyards and added some spares for a total of 6 halyards.

We moved the traveller from the back of the cockpit to the top of the roof, so we could have the arch over the cockpit. This meant re-designing where all the halyards and sheets go to get back to the cockpit. We replace the deck hardware with hardware from Garhauer. We also purchased a rigid boomvang, traveller and blocks etc from them. What a wonderful family company to deal with. And their products are absolutely georgeous!

The rigging is new 1x19 stainless wire, size 9/32. The ends at the top are roller swaged, while the ends at the bottom have mechanical fittings. We chose the Hayn Hi-Mod fittings, because they have a little 'sprocket' to guide the wires when putting the fitting together. They were very easy to put on. However, we took the mast down again, after 9 months on the hard. In the last picture you can see the deterioration of the fittings. We are not at all happy with this turn of events. What could have caused this? The boat has not moved the whole time the mast was up. We did not have any storms, acid rain or stray currents. The only thing we can think of is inferior materials were used in the fabrication of these fittings. Hayn, distributed in the US by Peterson, is not at all helpful. So beware of putting these Hayn Hi-Mod fittings on your boat. Fittings should last at least 10 years, sailing in salt water. Not 9 months on dry land, miles away from salt water. We'll let you know what they are going to do about this.

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