Bob Stay and Whisker Stays

[April]

I am still in the midst of splicing, rigging and such in the restoration of my boat, a 1934 S and S Ketch.

I did learn to splice 1 x 19 and I actually like it now that I am in the 1/4 and below diameters... I must not be that strong as the 5/16 really kicked my butt! I would be red and sweaty after each splice. The boat had 1 x 19 spliced eyes on all the standing rigging but for the bowsprit.

Now I am working on the bowsprit. It had 7 x 19 with spliced soft eyes for both the bobstay and whisker stays. (I have nasty meat hook wounds in my hands just from measuring the old stuff)

The bobstay was 3/8 7 x 19 and the whisker stays were 3/16 I would like to use 1 x 19 but I have heard that the shrouds and bobstay should be more flexible. Is this an absolute? If I can use the 1 x 19 I will have to make a strop as this is the plan for this rig. I would need to use 7 x 19 to make grommets/strops, is there a sizing rule on what diameter wire I would use for them? Can I use 3/8 1 x 19 with a 3/8 strop? I will of course parcel and serve the strops. Do the strops have to be of the same strength of the shrouds?

I have the rigging plans for the boat - the only plan that does not state size and type of wire is the bowsprit plan... I am totally going by what was previously on this boat. - the rest of her was rigging matches her original plans.