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

"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

Roger .. I can't believe this .. Ms Lange again! I am confused though. If
she has no head stay, how is the jib flying?
What is the jib attached to? There is no luff attachment for the sail ..
right?

===========
"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