"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Donna Lange is finishing up her trip without a head stay and with a
jib set flying as the only masthead support. Being also without an
engine should make closing with the coast a bit of an exercise in a
boat that won't point much above 90 degrees. I hope the blows
predicted for the next few days don't cause further trouble.

Her roller furling had been acting stiff and funky for a few days.
Then she discovered that the headstay had come out of the Sta-Lock
fitting at the masthead. Although I might be wrong, this is pretty
easy for me to visualize. I changed headsails last year and then went
to furl the sail after tensioning the luff and the foil was turning
very stiffly and popping as it went. I discovered that two bolts that
clamp it just above the roller drum had come loose and the friction of
the luff in the groove had pushed the foil hard up into the swage
terminal. It didn't take long to straighten that out.

But, think of that happening with a screwed terminal. Easy to see how
repeated furlings and settings could eventually unscrew the terminal.
Reminds me of a lesson from aviation that unusual behavior or change
of characteristics of equipment should always be investigated. It
also makes me think screwed terminals might be a poor choice for
roller furling headstays.

--
Roger Long


I am not an advocate of roll-ups so don't get the wrong idea. But I am
defending Sta-Lok mechanical terminals. They will NOT unscrew themselves
if installed correctly even if used with a roller system. Maybe whoever
installed Ms. Lange's did not use blue Locktite on the threads like they
were supposed to? (two reasons for it - minimizes chances of the
stainless steel threads galling,and seals the threads and glues them
together so they won't unscrew themselves.) Also, one should use black
silicon rubber on the inside where the wire is inserted to keep out any
moisture. I've seen many a Sta-Lok installed with no sealants or thread
lock cement. Amateurs! Too stupid to read the instructions. But people
who use roll-ups are none too bright to begin with. . .

Wilbur Hubbard