Evan,

Synthetic rigging seems to be big with multihulls these days. Precourt
in Canada http://www.precourt.ca/ makes deadeyes up to 30,000 lb. just
for that purpose machined as chainplates, middle eyes and top thimbles.
You could use the top thimble with a shackle to make the transistion
to wire.

You might even consider replacing all the rigging with Amsteel Blue. It
works out a lot cheaper than wire and seems to be gaining a lot of
acceptance with the high performance cat sailors. It is a little
stronger than the same size wire and if the loads stay under 30% there
is very little creep once the initial stretch is removed.

What I want to know is how do you intend to raise the mast off that deck
beam and what will it do to the RM? You are increasing the lever arm of
the center of force and putting it up higher into stronger wind. That
in combination with reducing the angle of the stays will increase the
load on the stays. But maybe the wide base of a cat will minimize that.

Evan Gatehouse wrote:
Folks,

First a bit of background. I'm considering buying a 40' cruising catamaran.
It's an "open bridgedeck" design - without a bridgedeck cabin. I want a
bridgedeck cabin so I'd have to build the cabin.

To make the cabin fit I'd have to raise the boom. I have 2 solutions - just
reweld the gooseneck on 2' higher, and trim the bottom of the mainsail.
This looses me sail area which I am loath to do.

The other solution is to raise the mast 2' (which is easy to do 'cause it's
just stepped on a deck beam). But then all the rigging wires become too
short. So I'm looking for ideas to extend rigging wires. So far I have:

- replace most of the wires (7 at least would have to be done, not a cheap
proposition)
- short lengths of rigging wire with swaged fittings at each end -
reasonably cheap but lots more potential failure points
- short lengths of multiple passes of spectra or similar high modulus line -
probably cheapest and lightest, need some custom solid aluminum thimbles to
handle the lines

I'd appreciate any opinions. Thanks,

--
Evan Gatehouse

you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me
ceilydh AT 3web dot net
(fools the spammers)




--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com