Shrouds

[megan]

We recently purchased a 1982 S2 7.9 and discovered that one of the lower shrouds has several broken wires right at the upper terminal. We'd like to find out where we can find these type shrouds with the special terminal end at the mast. Thank you for any help. Megan

[Jim Kloss]

Hall Rigging (available on line) is a good source, but there's nothing special about the shrouds EXCEPT the older boats, like yours and mine, have "old style" #8 t-ball fittings. The new style don't fit the slots on the mast. Just specify that to your rigger, and you shouldn't have any problems. Think about switching to open body turnbuckles too.

Jim Kloss
s/v Ambivalence
S2 7.9 #8

[dave]

DEFINITELY on the open bodies, and no stainless on stainless threads!!!!

[megan]

Thank you Dave and Jim. Our boat is hull # 95. It currently has half open turnbuckles with bronze fittings on the deck end. All the shrouds had looked good with no burrs and not much rust until we spotted one lower shroud at the t-ball had been taped to hide the broken wires. We had missed it before (ugh). We had never seen a t-ball fitting and thought they might be a thing of the past. Do you know if the half side open turnbuckles are common or very old that we should replace all? We were getting ready to launch to take our visiting grandkids sailing -sigh! We tried out a mast lifting system that did work. We hope to make it easier yet. Not the place to ask but does any body know anything about our boat? It came from Ontario and at one time was named Pain Killer. Thanks so much for the help. Megan

[dave]

Sorry: what's a "half side open" turnbuckle? They are either open body or closed body. Those that came on my boat were closed body, stainless on stainless threads and BLEW! A real pain in the rear to adjust and always felt as if they were on the verge of gauling, which this type of TBs are infamous for.

[megan]

Half side open turnbuckle has one side that is solid and one side that is open. In the past we have had open turnbuckles and have not seen this type before. It's my terminology that is confusing to you. Sorry.

[dave]

No problem, just wanting to be sure of what we are talking about.

Go easy on those closed body TBs. Clean them out REALLY WELL with some WD-40, using the spaghetti tube that comes with it and then use something like Superlube to coat the male and female threads before reassembly.

Sounds like you may be ready for a complete rigging refit with new open bodies too. Ahhh boating........................................................ just be glad it's not a POWER boat!!!!!

http://www.super-lube.com/

[AllenDurow]

"Ahhh boating........................................................ just be glad it's not a POWER boat!!!!!"

Amen to that. The Saudi's don't make kevlar (as far as I know) and they only get me for a gallon of their sauce each season.

[megan]

Ahhh, the old hole in the water.... We have decided to replace all the rigging since it looks like it's original. The only question is the t-ball size - the specs we have call for a #6 and Jim said he uses a #8 for the old boats like ours (1982 for us). Thanks for all the help - this is amazing. We have no fleet here in Mississippi but we'll try her out against the other guys. Megan

[Jim Kloss]

MY ERROR! Sorry; I just checked the original specs and they are #6 turnbuckles and t-balls. But I'm right about needing the "old style." I was given a used set of newer shrouds and couldn't use them.

Jim Kloss
s/v Ambivalence
S2 7.9#8

[dave]

Megan, where in Mississippi? I'm in Little Rock.

[megan]

Mississippi Gulf Coast - Pass Christian.

[dave]

Funny, I figured that you were close to that area!

How'd you fare in Katrina?

[megan]

Lost a home we were selling and had 5 1/2' in our new one, but we were one of the luck ones. Had a structure left that we gutted and refinished. Decided it was time to have some fun - and so the "new" hole in the water in which to pour money!

[megan]

Dave, we have decided to replace all our standing rigging and have talked to Riggingonly. We are measuring and have come up with pretty much what the Rigging Specifications from S2 state with turnbuckles 2/3 out, except for the backstay and bridle.


Our measurements:

Forestay: 31'-4 3/4"
Upper: 30'-10 3/4"
Lower: 15'-7 3/4"

Backstay: 28'-8 1/4" (specs state 29'-5/8" ) a 4 3/8" difference)
Bridle: cut off=93-5/8" and pin-to-pin: 96-1/4" (specs state cut off as 94-5/8") a one inch difference.

Can you offer any thoughts or comments? Help would be appreciated. Don't want to send our current rigging since somebody had added a rollerfurling and new headstay. Also looks like they had a lot of rake or mast bend that we don't want. The shrouds were tightened as far as possible in the turnbuckles. We're thinking we ought to start with the S2 specs and hopefully a straight mast.