Backstay Shroud
- Action: To Do List item A0173 – Replace all turnbuckles and rigging wire.
- Completed: 21 March 2018
- Cost: $738.67
Ordered and received the following items for the backstay shroud:
| Backstay Shroud - 5/16" 1x19 316 SS cable | Q | Cost | |
| 143-08 | Sta-Lok Swageless Insulator - Terminal to Terminal - Wire Size: 5/16" | 2 | $387.64 |
| 5161x19316 | 5/16" 1x19 type 316 stainless | 56 | $166.32 |
| 12FBJ | Hayn Jaw Body Only Turnbuckles •Pin Diameter: 1/2", Wire Diameter: 5/16" •Turnbuckle Length: 6.5", Thread size: 1/2-20 L.H | 1 | $68.00 |
| 136-08 | Sta-Lok Stud 5/16 X1/2" UNF Right Hand | 1 | $62.49 |
| 133-08-1/2 | Sta-Lok Eye - 5/16" and 8mm wire X 1/2" 12.5 pin | 1 | $54.22 |
| $738.67 |
To access and remove the lower backstay turnbuckle clevis pin, the Flemming wind vane mount base bolts/nuts were removed and the wind vane base shifted to the port side. The HF/SSB antenna wire was removed from the backstay shroud. A spare halyard was routed from the top of the mast aft, over the boom gallows, and secured to a aft port side cleat. The the lower backstay turnbuckle was disconnected, then a trip up the mast to remove and lower the backstay shroud top end.
The original backstay shroud wire eye-to-eye length was about 51 feet 7 inches. The backstay shroud had insulators installed for the HF/SSB system and this resulted in the need to cut three separate lengths of stainless steel wire. The following pictures illustrate the measured distances of the original backstay shroud. The two sections of white ABS plastic tube was used to store the man overboard pole and they were not reinstalled. The last picture shows the lower backstay turnbuckle adjusted fully closed, with no further capability to tighten the backstay wire - this was how it was found when originally installed.
We first installed a Sta-Loc Eye terminal on the 5/16-inch spool of wire and measured it for length against the old wire where the old insulator was installed. The wire was cut about the 4-foot length mark and the new Sta-Loc insulator was installed on that segment. The end of the 5/16-inch spool of wire was then installed on the other end of the Sta-Loc insulator. Again using the old wire to measure length, the next cut was made at a length of about 40.5 feet and another Sta-Loc insulator was attached. The end of the 5/16-inch spool of wire was then installed on the other end of this Sta-Loc insulator. Again using the old wire to measure length, the next cut was made at a length of about 5 feet, where it was attached to the turnbuckle stud. The overall length was kept about the same but the turnbuckle was adjusted so the studs were at their 50 percent adjustment range when the measured wire cut was made.
The end of the backstay shroud with the Sta-Loc Eye terminal was attached at the top of the mast with new clevis and cotter pin installed. The turnbuckle end was then installed on the boomkin mount plate, also with a new clevis and cotter pin.
