Replace Stay under a furler?

[Nick J]

On another thread (https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/whats-on-your-list-for-commissioning-season-2024.21232/), @bgary brought up something that I've wondered about for a while, can you replace the stay under a furler? If so, how? Just because you can, should you? Here's an interesting technique:

Do others have experience replacing a stay under a furler?

 

[Frank Langer]

On another thread (https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/whats-on-your-list-for-commissioning-season-2024.21232/), @bgary brought up something that I've wondered about for a while, can you replace the stay under a furler? If so, how? Just because you can, should you? Here's an interesting technique:

Do others have experience replacing a stay under a furler?

Yes, see my reply to BGary post on this question.
Frank

 

[bgary]

Here's an interesting technique:

Interesting, indeed.

For me, personally, I much prefer swaged ends. Plus I would always be wondering about that re-used Norseman fitting.

 

[Kenneth K]

Bruce, Nick,

If you have the older Harken furlers, I have detailed pictures of the disassembly and re-build process. Unless you have access to a yard with a swaging tool, you're forced to replace one of the swages (upper or lower) with a Hi-mod or Norseman fitting. Hi-mods seem to be recommended these days.

 

[bigd14]

Harken seems to have no problem with people using mechanical fittings on the lower. They simply say to add a washer. I worried about mechanical vs swage for awhile but ultimately I was more worried that I wouldn’t get the measurements right when ordering a swaged forestay since I was installing a new furler at the same time. I used a swage fitting on top and a Sta Lok fitting on the bottom.

 

[Nick J]

I like the idea of swaged at the top and mechanical fitting at the bottom. Seems to give more flexibility and it's something us normal people can be involved with. I also heard mechanical Fittings are more corrosion resistant, but not sure if that's true. I used a Norseman on the lower end of the backstay on my 25+ when I had to shorten it to add a backstay adjuster. I really liked being able to install it in the field by myself. Much better than removing it and taking it to a rigger. Does anyone have any negative experience with mechanical Fittings?

 

[Pete the Cat]

I like the idea of swaged at the top and mechanical fitting at the bottom. Seems to give more flexibility and it's something us normal people can be involved with. I also heard mechanical Fittings are more corrosion resistant, but not sure if that's true. I used a Norseman on the lower end of the backstay on my 25+ when I had to shorten it to add a backstay adjuster. I really liked being able to install it in the field by myself. Much better than removing it and taking it to a rigger. Does anyone have any negative experience with mechanical Fittings?

I screwed up my first Norseman effort. It was a long time ago--so I don't remember what was wrong, but I got meticulous about reading the instructions (Harken does a very nice job of explaining how to do this in some of their furling installation manuals) ever since. I trust mechanical fittings more than swages. The only rigging failure I ever had was on a recently fabricated swaged lower--after a few months it had somehow cracked and parted (in the night, in a rough crossing). I suppose I should not draw any generalization from one experience, but when you tighten a mechanical fitting, there is something satisfying about knowing what is in there and how it is secured. I have sailed a lot of boats as deliveries, many with old swaged rigging and never had any other problem in 45 years. I know that some of my boatyard friends think that swages will crack if the rig is left up in a freezing climate and they used to put Lanacote or beeswax in them (after they are swaged) to prevent this.

 

[Kenneth K]

The original Harken furlers have an integral turnbuckle that the drum rotates around. If replacing an old Harken furler, you also typically have to add a traditional headstay turnbuckle and adjust the headstay length accordingly.