nicopress standing rigging?

[ghetto_yachting]

Ok, so what about using 7x7 wire, one size up?

E.g. say a Coronado 25 with 3/16" 1x19 gets re-rigged with 1/4" 7x7 galvanized and copper nicopress:

-If the original rig was 316 the break strength goes from 4000lb to 6100 lbs, an increase of 50%
-If the original rig was 302/304 the break strength goes from 4700lb to 6100 lbs, an increase of 30%
-Assume 150ft of wire aloft, weight aloft goes up by just 4lbs
-If the nicopress reduces the wire strength by 20% it is still stronger than the original swaged 1x19

I imagine the break strength of the wire would not be reduced by a nicropress fitting, if it were then nicopress' claims would be erroneous. I could develop my own wire end that is only 1/9th as strong as the wire, but reduces the strength of the wire by 90% and still claim full break strength.

Either way, on a boat like a Coronado 25 a "proper" re-rigging can exceed the value of the boat. That doesn't make much sense in my book when there may be a much more economical option that is just as seaworthy.

Again, we're not talking about an Alerion Express, we're talking about boats that may not get re-rigged if the price is too high. This is a safety issue.

Originally Posted by Brion Toss

Hi there,
The very helpful rep that I spoke with at Nico said that, while their terminals will break the wire in 6x and 7x constructions, they were less efficient in 1x19. The problem, as he put it, was that the yarns behave like the threads on a screw, so the terminals can slip. For this reason, you should never use Nicopress fittings as end-stops, as they don't hold at all well in that application.
I did not ask the rep about efficiency per se; that is, while the terminal might break the wire in a test, rather than slipping, I don't know if it weakens the wire, or by how much. Cable clamps, for instance, won't slip, when properly done, but weaken the wire by 20% or so. I am hoping that the rep might sign in here, to elucidate/correct all this.
Finally, 1x19 is reluctant to go around thimbles, and thimbles that are big enough in radius -- and which won't collapse under extreme loads -- can be too big to fit into yacht turnbuckles.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss