DaySailer.org Forum

Was wondering what people think about the strength of a side stay that has been kinked and straightened. When I was raising my mast yesterday the turnbuckle got jammed up against cuddy and kinked the stay right at the swage. The kink was not quite 90°, I straightened it out and felt for any broken strands which there were none, but it worries me. I do have the heavier 1/8" stays. Should I just replace it?

KC,

I had a stay with a slight kink in it for years and never had a problem. However, mine was nowhere near 90 degrees; it was more like 10. With a bend that sharp you have certainly setup metal fatigue in the wire strands and there is no practical way to determine how much the overall strength has been weakened. Better safe than sorry. I'd replace the wire. Years ago I dismasted a Hobie 16 thanks to a broken stay. While I suffered no damage to the mast or sails as a result, it was an adventure I would have preferred not to have had.
-cpb

Chris,

Yeah, I think I will error on the side of caution and replace it. Thanks for your thoughts.

Look for any breaks. If any strands in the shroud are broken, replace before sailing again.

K.C. - Better safe than not. In a practical sense you wouldn’t want to play a guitar with a bent string. Brad

When in doubt it's safer to replace all the running rigging than your mast.
Just like when the doctor asks you when your last tetanus was? If you can't remember right away when the running rigging was last replaced it's time to replace it especially if you sail in a salt water enviroment.

I'm in agreement with everyone else I think. Better safe than sorry - but it's only one shroud - right? You could look into going to a shop and have them cut out the stressed area and set a new swage on it. If it was right a the end, there might be enough for the turn buckle to make up the difference - but I think I'd just get a new shroud.