Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

[bowman316]

I removed my forestay, where it connects to the bow spirit, to replace the wood on the spirit. now I can't seem to work the turnbuckle to get the forestay tight. I gavemy self about 6 more inches, so that I could connect the stay back on. but now it is loose.

I have a closed body turnbuckle. Can i tighten the turnbuckle with everything hooked up? the nut on the back side of the turnbuckle won't budge. but the one on the front will move.
do i have to turn the center section, kinda like the middle point on a 3-point hitch?

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

Most turnbuckles have left hand threads on one end and right hand on the other. Turning the center section tightens both ends equally. Turning just one end only gives you half the adjustment. Be sure to start out with both ends screwed out an equal distance.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

how do you turn the center section?

is there a special tool, or do you just use a plyers?

there is a small hole on the steel jacket in the center.

this is a closed turnbuckle

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

I don't know if there is a proper tool. The few times I work with them I usually go to my box of allen wrenchs and dig out the one closest to the hole size. Stick the short in through the hole and use the long end as the handle to turn the center section.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

The " PROPER " tool is a marlinspike or a belaying pin of the proper diameter, in reality anything that fits that hole will work. Don't forget to tighteb the jam nuts when you're done.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

I removed my forestay, where it connects to the bow spirit, to replace the wood on the spirit.

Isn't the correct word "bow sprit"?

 

[ghamby]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

When you say you gave yourself six more inches, does that mean you lengthened the stay by that much? If so, you will need a huge turnbuckle to
tension the stay. Go back to the original stay length. If you need a little extra
slack, add a shackle. Back the lock nuts all the way off. Even out the turnbuckle ends.Stop the ends from turning and tighten the center. Tighten the lock nuts with a wrench.
The advise about the hex key is sound. The proper diameter of pin punch
will also work. Resist the urge to grab the ice pick out of the galley.
Bowsprit is one word.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

oh, i always thought it was spirt, like ghost type of spirit

i did figure it out, but i can't get the stay super tight.

it is a little looser than a guitar string.

how tight should it be?

 

[Triton II]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

Hi bowman,

It depends on the boat and the type of rig... what is it? Bermuda rigged boats generally have tight-ish forestays and shrouds (sidestays). A sloppy bass guitar string level tightness is probably about right on a small Bermuda rigged racing dinghy, whereas a large yatch will need to be tighter. When running downwind you'll see the forestay loosen a fair bit.

TII

 

[bowman316]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

this is a 26 ft sloop rigged grampaign .

year is 1970

the shrouds are a good bit tighter.

they are tighter that a high guitar string

 

[Triton II]

Re: Turnbuckles, how do you use them to tighten your forestay?

I assume you mean a Grampian 26 which has an rear stay as well as a fore stay. This means you can adjust the rake of the mast by tightening as desired. Once the rake's set then tighten both fore and rear stays to about the same tension as the shrouds, but don't over do it. Nice boat by the way!

TII