[Public-List] Alberg rig Weak Links

[C.B. Currier]

In my experience and what I have heard over time:
1.  Have not done anything with the spreaders othen than replace them
with White Oak and turn them backwards so that the shrouds are pushed
aft. This causes pre-bend which is good for big air. Might be a good
Idea just have not broached the issue.

2.  I have spent quite a bit of time wtih the mast on Infinity & feel as
she was an early boat the the masthead is in fine shape. My other boat -
Daybreak has an even better looking masthead & I really have had no
reason to consider failure an issue. Stephen's replacement is very nice
& is a suitable option - maybe having one on hand is a great idea.

3.  All of the chainplates on the boat except for the headstay are
questionalble and should be monitored and maintaned every year at least.
I do not believe the boat will loose it's rig if you loose the aft
chainplate. However the performance of the boat is vastly improved if
you implement a backstay adjuster -particularly for big air to de-power
the rig. On Infinity the knees need to be upgraded and that should
include the aft one as well. I also need to replace atleast one
bulkhead. These issues have been discovered over the past 2 years - I
have been racing a Melges 24 and have not been active in the Annapolis
A30 racing. Possibly next year.

Hope that Helps - My philosophy is shrouds fail - eliminate those
failure points but keep it simple - in the ocean single handed can you
fix it? I want that answer to be I am self sustaining & can fix the
problem Knock on Masonite!

On Sun, 2010-01-17 at 15:55 +0000, crufone at comcast.net wrote:
> 
> Morning C.B. 
> 
> Thanks for your direct comments. 
> 
> Since you drive your boat hard in all conditions, have you installed some type of spreader compression tube in your mast? What is your assessment of the need for this compression tube. Could an owner install some type of reinforcement on the outside of the mast where the spreaders mount? 
> 
> What are your thoughts about the original cast Aluminum mast head fitting?  Is it strong enough or should an owner consider replacing as Stephen Sousa has designed? 
> 
> Is the aft stay chain plate adequate? 
> 
> Michael #133 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I suggest that the order of quality to shroud terminals in terms of 
> quality is : 
> 
> Best: Sta-loc / Norseman / Hayne fittings truly lock the mire into a 
> permanant but maintainable lock. Terminal can be reused with new cones. 
> 
> Better: Swedged terminals - They can fail unexpectedly and due to work 
> hardening may remain brittle and are subject to the work quality of the 
> rigger. 
> Base: Nico Press work well some do not like them as they are not as 
> attractive and may have the same issues as the swedged terminals. 
> 
> 
> Based on the assumption for som of you that you could fix the mast beam 
> - school of thinking - the use of nico press sleevs is fine for another 
> 40 years despite what the experts say. 
> 
> On Infinity I have replaced all of the nico press sleeves with norsemen 
> 
> C.B. Currier 
> Infinity #57 
> Daybreak #458 
> 
> On Sun, 2010-01-17 at 15:19 +0000, crufone at comcast.net wrote: 
> > 
> > John, 
> > 
> > Would you recommend that I not sail the boat until the Nicro Press fittings are replaced. 
> 
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