Dux attachment issues
 

I am continuing rerigging with Dynex Dux for my 43' cutter. The available line terminators from Colligo do not match up to conventional mast or turnbuckle terminators. For example, assuming the use of 11mm to replace 5/16 1x19 wire currently in use as Sea Fever's backstay the available terminator uses a 5/8 pin, which is ok, but the same terminator is too wide to fit into the 5/8 toggle jaw. So to get the terminator attached to the head of the mast, I am contemplating using a pair of plates to adapt the extra width of the terminator to the pin in an eye at the masthead. My concern is that it seems to me the cotter pins in the clevis pins through the plates may experience enough load to shear due to intermittent shifting of the loading between the two plates. Is the use of plates like this at the masthead accepted and safe practice?

Ends and Means
 

Hi there,
At the lower end, try Blue Wave's turnbuckles. Their jaws are wider and deeper than others, and the quality is very good. At the upper end, I am not clear just what configuration you are speaking of, but it should not be difficult to come up with a conventional tang that will accept those eyes. And you should definitely consider Collogo's "Cheeky tangs," that make the problem go away entirely. Just be sure you get the right length of throughbolt, with the threads cut so that there is no compression load on the mast. Consider shouldered bushings for the mast wall, regardless of the tangs you use.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss