Forestay attachment inside mast

[jkolle]

I recently purchased a 1978 Ranger 22. The boat has a fractional rig with internal halyards. The previous owner attached the forestay to the side of the mast at the bolt that holds the upper shrouds, which is clearly wrong. There a 3" long, 1" wide slot in the mast for the internal jib halyard block plus enough space above the block to lead the forestay up to the shroud bolt. On other Ranger 22s, this is where the foretay leads. Apparently there is some sort of toggle that attaches the forestay to the bolt. The toogle is missing and I can find no reference to the appropriate toggle size to use or whether this is a custom part. The bolt is 3/16" dia, 4" long and runs through a 3/8" dia. aluminum compression tube. The bolt is bent slightly, perhaps indicating that there was once a toggle there. I could install a 3/8" toggle but I am uncomfortable with the bending load on the bolt and compression tube. I could also install a mast dog, but this is not how these Rangers were meant to be rigged.

Any ideas on how this boat should be rigged?

Ragards,
Jack Kolle
True Blue
Lake Union
Seattle

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Other Rangers might take the forestay to the shroud throughbolt, but if you do you'll be pulling on the middle of an unsupported length of a bolt, one that is also securing the shrouds. Bad. What you want is some form of independent attachment, and this might be a lug screwed to the face of the mast at or near the slot, or an internal tang set inside the slot, or even a fitting which wraps far enough around the face of the mast to pick up the bolt at the shroud tangs. This sounds like a consultation question. Be in touch if you're interested.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[jkolle]

Brian,

Thanks for the advice, even with a toggle, the forestay to bolt attachment seems weak. I will likely attach a mast dog that wraps around to the bolt.

Jack Kolle