forestay to chinplate connection

Is there a better way to conect the forestay to the chinplate, I think those are the right terms, other than using a pin and ring dings? It seems like there would be a way to employ a quicker conection than having to fumble with those ring dings. It seems like at times there is a lot of stuff in my hands when trying to make this connection. I know that this is a critical conection and there needs to be something that won't work itself loose, which is certainly an advantage of the ring dings. Is there a better product? What do ya'll think?

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Since the forestay is only under tension till you raise the jib, you could just use a fast pin to hold the mast up. The downside is that they're about $20 a pop, so tie a string between it and the chainplate.

I absolutely would not use a fast pin on any standing rigging that will be under tension while sailing. Eventually you'll bend it and have to cut it off. Been there, done that.

Brian C

p.s. The quick pin you want is 1/4" x 3/4", ring head. Hobie p/n 20312.

Brian C

I'm still not crazy about using a QR pin on the forstay, however we sell a bunch thru the year for that purpose.

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Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

Thanks for the replies. I think for now I'll just use the ring ding, I may look into it. I'm planning on figuring out a way to raise the mast and rig everything solo so I'm always looking for shortcuts to get on the water faster, as long as the don't compensate the integrety of the whole system. Almost to 70 degrees around NC, I'm going sailing!

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

I'm actually with Brad on this.... But I've been over-ruled by customers so many times, I at least tell people about the pros and cons.

Brian C

now I do have some rec sailors who use a carabineer to connect the forestay, they leave the pin and ring ding in the adjuster and just snap the carabineer to the pin, seems to work good.

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Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

That's way scarier to me than a fast pin.

Brian C

I think that by the time you spent the money for a better than average quality climbing caribener you could have just invested in a fast pin. Plus, if you end up not liking it for the forestay there are a number of other places it could be used. But, I can see how it could work. I don't think that's for me though. Thanks everyone for the advice, I'm about to ship off to the lake momentarily . Too bad the wind forecast is only for 10mph today:(

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

I would actually buy the caribeaner at a sailing store and not use one for climbing.

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

I use a stainless caribiner, I think the climbing ones are usually aluminum. There's no tension on it except when the jib is down, so why not. I haven't had any problems and my last 16 spent most of the summer sitting with the mast up with the jib sheets attached to the chainplate pulled tight to keep the mast from swaying in the breeze.

I used a stainless caribiner for 20 years on two boats with no problems. It made it very easy for the crew to hook up the forestay.

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Ok. I didn't know that they made them specifically for sailing. Thanks everyone for the replies. I finially got my first sail of the season in today, and as I thought there was little wind, and it was shifty. Also raised the mast for the first time solo today, it was a little tricky and took some figuring but it wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. Getting the forestay hooked up wasn't quite as difficult as I last remembered, cleating off the mast once it was raised was a big help. I think that the hardest part was getting the mast base in the mast step link with all of that weight being spread out, next time I'll make some kind of tripod to help with the leverage.

Supposed to be blowing around 20 tommorow and nearing 80 degrees. I was the only boat on the water today, lots of room to play

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Toggle pins work well here too.

By the way, I use quick pins on my hobie 20 bridle pins (hull end). It was like this when I bought the boat and has been this way ever since.

I like the quick pins for several applications. There were a few various ones with all the stuff I got when I bought my boat. I few of the places that I have used them are connecting the tiller to the tiller bar, the main block to the traveler, and one for the jib where it connects to the chinplate, it has a keeper line so it doesn't fall in the drink. I also used a snap shacke for connecting the main upper blocks to the boom.

_________________
James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909