by jeadstx » Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:42 pm
Many years ago my dad's O'Day Mariner lost a mast at a mooring when it was hit by a small tornado going thru the harbor. It ripped the tabernacle off the cabin roof, but the mast was undamaged.
Recently, while sailing the Texas 200, I had a split ring come off the clevis pin on a side stay while sailing. In my case the stay came off. We were on a port tack when I noticed it. I was able to grab the loose stay and found the clevis pin at the base of the chain plate. I was trying to get a cotter pin to secure it when we capsized since my cousin who was at the helm didn't release the main sheet (bad series of events). During the rescue of the boat, with tension on the stay, it stayed in place until we got the boat ashore and someone found a cotter pin to secure it.
Might have been a similar case where you lost a cotter pin or split ring while sailing and after you left the boat, the clevis pin worked its' way out causing a stay to come loose.
It has been suggested to me to tape my toggle ends in the future. I did have covers over the turnbuckles, but they didn't help.
John
1976 Day Sailer II, #8075 - Completed the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Texas 200
1952 Beetle Boat Swan Catboat
Early Rhodes 19
1973 Mariner 2+2, #2607 - Completed 2014, 2015 and 2016 Texas 200
1969 Day Sailer I, #3229
Fleet 135; Canyon Lake, Texas