MBounds wrote:
Don't forget to include ALL the standing rigging, including the shroud / bridle anchor pins. Worn lines are an inconvenience. The mast falling down will ruin your day.
That's the truth. I bought a used 17 that had been thrashed. Seller said he had recently replaced the standing rigging, and it looked ok to me. (I had a new 17 previously). About the 3rd time out, a side stay parted and the mast fell forward away from my son and I. More scary than anything, because no one was sitting there. Did some repairable damage. I replaced the standing rigging and sold the damn thing, I never could stop the hull leaks (which the seller never mentioned).
I've got a Getaway now, and recently had a scare. The shackle pin for the the forestay worked loose. It caught on the jib grommet by a couple of teeth before I noticed it. If it had gone, it would have falled backwards towards where the 4 of us were sitting.
I replace the shackle with one I could safety wire, and now check everything before we go out! All the little ring-dings behind the rubber covers on the side stays, the wired shackle on the mast tank, the rivets on the mast tang...