What A Fool Believes

[Rattle]

I've got heavy chain plates and heavy wires on a fully decked boat. The forces seem to be fairly well anticipated in the size and guage of the plates and the size of the chain plate bolts. So it's not simply a case of wrong wires. The hull and the chain plates have been beefed up too.

It looks like I'll be adding some chain to the backstays, or getting a hold of monster 16" turnbuckles. Or cutting new sails. Or making a whole new set of wires. I start to appreciate the art at a much deeper level today. Life is interesting. I'll get more detail on this posted tonight with pictures of the boat and plates.

I've been looking at the rig from the standpoint of it being untried and never quite finished by the previouse owner. I don't think I'm too far off the mark there. Pictures will help you get an idea of what I'm talking about.

I thank those who have read this. And I'm very pleased with the tips from Matt and Ian. Thank you both very much.