[Rhodes22-list] Failed Stays & varnish

[Michael D. Weisner]

I have never heard of wasing the stays, even on salt water.  Since the wax 
will not prevent corrosion within the fitting, it seems to be a waste of 
time.  It will probably keep the fittings looking like new, even if the wire 
is failing.

Most PREMATURE STAY FAILURES are due to improper handling (excessive 
twisting, kinking, etc.), overtensioning when rigging, or poor quality 
control during manufacture (knicking during swaging.)  A good manufacturer 
will also coat the wire before swaging to prevent oxidation within the 
fitting, a common point of failure.

I have several original stays and a few that have been replaced over the 26 
years.  I can recall seeing a knick at the base of the wire/fitting 
interface and over a few years a single strand frayed.  As soon as it was 
broken, the stay was replaced, without question.  Carefull and regular 
inspection of at least the lower fittings whould be part of your sailing 
(daily or weekly) maintenance.  No, I do not use turnbuckle covers, which 
tend to hide the warning signs.


Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY

From: "Tootle" <ekroposki at charter.net> Friday, September 21, 2007 11:18 AM
>
> Jim,
>
> In 9 years, I recall only one single failed stay.  There have been some 
> with
> some wire breaking.  I had one wire break and sent to General Boats.  They
> sent a new the correct size.
>
> The comment about rust is interesting, but then aren't you on salt water?
>
> I would choose either Stan or other known quality stay maker.  In addition
> to Stan, I have other experience with JSI Rigging of St.Petersburg, FL.
> http://www.newjsi.com/rigging.aspx
> You send them the damaged stay and they reproduce it new at a fair price 
> and
> good turnaround time.
>
> When you get the new set, wax before installing.
>
> There have been others who even put the next size up wire on new stays, 
> just
> a thought.  But you cannot do that if you have Stan's furler.
>
> Ed K
> Greenville, SC, USA
> "It is not an American belief that free government is inevitable, only 
> that
> it is possible, and that its possibility can be realized only when the
> people as a whole are inwardly governed by the recognized imperatives of 
> the
> universal moral law."  John Courtney Murray
>
>
> -- 
> View this message in context: 
> http://www.nabble.com/Failed-Stays-tf4496545.html#a12823669
> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>