Split Rings

I watched something interesting while a friend was rigging his Tiger. He was tightening the rig and using the easy split rings, the one with the bent in part to make it easier to start. When he pushed the rubber boot over the adjuster to keep the ring from getting snagged and to protect hands and such, the ring spun off and dropped out of the boot. He said it was the second time that that has happened to him. The first time the ring spun off as he pulled up the boot. When rigging, standard split rings give more confidence. If using easy rings, make sure that the hole in the pin is horizontal to allow the ring to lay flat against the adjuster, not sticking out to the side. The friction on the boot will/may spin the split ring off the pin.

I have sailed a long time and this is the first time that I have seen this.

We always tape the split rings, with a small piece of electrical tape. Old habit, but have never had one fail.
Caleb

I second the tape. I alway tape up rings and clevis pins. I also tape the shackles on the bow tang for the spinaker pole wires as I have seen the flat part of that clevis tear a chute before. I don't know what the reason is but we always seem to have the best results when using blue tape instead of black or red.