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PostPosted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:49 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:20 am
Posts: 8
Hi guys,

i was out in moderate seas with 16 mph winds and ended up calling for a tow from the coastgaurd.
Close hauled, my friend hiking out on trapeze, the mast suddenly came crashing down. We struggled to pull the mast back on board and take the sail down. This was particularly hard with the mast head float as each 5 foot wave would pick the mast up and dump it on us.

Once we have lashed the mast down and radioed for some assiatnce, we saw that the problem was the shroud/stanchion on the starboard side had snapped cleanly through just below its attachment to the mast. There was no sign of corrosion or rust. The break happened inside the plsatic covering of the wire!

my question is, how frequently should we replace the rigging? Is there any way to assess it other than looking? My boat in a 2005 Hobie 15 club. Do i need to replace all the rigging now or just the broken stanchion?

thanks

Graham


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:24 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:18 am
Posts: 778
Location: Virginia Beach VA
Plastic jacketing on wires reduces injury. Otherwise it obscures corrosion when it is nicked and water, especially salt water, gets in. I've heard five years is a good replacement interval but I know guys who've gone much longer. Replace all of them at the same time including bridles, fore-stay and trap wires. Don't forget the pig tail at the top of the jib too. If you are going with aftermarket, off brand or DIY rigging make sure they are double swaged.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:13 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 2:12 am
Posts: 4
Those wires can take a beating, we had one of ours on the verge of failing before we replaced it. (it had become a user hazard, wires everywhere!)

It never broke clean on us though, luck of the draw for you I guess..


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:10 pm 
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Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:36 pm
Posts: 216
It all depends what you're doing. Racing in salt water is recommended 1-2 year life for rigging. Our fleet tends to sail in 15-25kt wind... and I took a swim on Saturday when my "can't miss" trap line ring snapped and left me swimming after my flipped Miracle 20.

How hard do you sail? How often to you rinse it down after a salt water use? How often do you sail?

5 Years can probably work if you're not pushing it all the time.

_________________
Tom
Fleet 259, Central Coast CA
H18 ('81)
H18 ('85)
H20 ('97)
H18 ('78)


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:37 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:23 am
Posts: 599
Location: Lake Norman NC
I use a product called Sharkhide on all the rigging when new and at the first of every sailing season
I use a Q-tip for applying
Quality rigging every 5 years is a must around salt water
Keep the best old wire in the Hobie Hell box for an emergency spare
Former Hobie Admiral Gary


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