Wish Bone Shackles and mousing

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Brian Chipman

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Aug 8, 2019, 3:29:32 PM8/8/19
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Hello Everyone, as a new sailor I hope to learn something every time I go out on my boat. Yesterday was certainly no exception. We had been out enjoying a great sail, winds aprroz 15 kts with a full sail.. Log was reading consistently around six knots with a few bursts up over seven. At these times we were heeled over and experiencing some weather helm and I was proud of myself as I quickly remembered what I had been taught about easing the sheet to bring the boat up again. All went well and I felt I had gained a bit of experience. We sailed for about four hours and dropped the sail not to far from the mooring field, motored in and I successfully picked up the mooring on my own. Something i have been practicing. After my guests left, I tied up the sail and proceeded to put the sail cover on when I looked up and to my horror the Wish Bone was dangling and unsupported on the port side.. The port forward shackle had come undone and all the weight of the wishbone was now on the starboard shackle. After some over the phone coaching from a friend and teacher I used the main halyard to haul the Wishbone back to where it belonged. appropriated an extension ladder and climbed up and secured the wishbone with a new shackle.  Obviously the shackle had not been moused nor was the shackle on the starboard side.  It and they now are moused and a valuable lesson was learned. I don't know what would have happened if the pin had let go while we were underway with the sail up. I do know that my experience level would not have been up for the challenge. I suppose that I would have dropped the sail but imagine that would have been a bit of a mess. Just thought I would share this. Perhaps there are other newbies out there who might benefit from this story.

Brian Chipman
Mawingo
Nonsuch 30U 344
Mahone Bay
NS
'

David Young

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Aug 8, 2019, 4:07:32 PM8/8/19
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Yes, you definitely want to secure your hanger line shackles as well as those for the topping lift and safety pennant. Glad you suffered nothing more than a bad scare.

David Young
Bay Cat, 30U #402
Suttons Bay, MI
USA

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Bob Gehrman

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Aug 8, 2019, 4:35:46 PM8/8/19
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Is the safety pennant the 15’ braided line that is called for on the owners info chart? I can’t figure out where that is?

Bob Gehrman
Quickbeam, NS30U #122
Baltimore , MD

Bill Spencer

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Aug 8, 2019, 4:58:09 PM8/8/19
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Brian, the easiest way to secure the wishbone hanger shackles is to use a cotter ring. Place the ring over the opposite leg of the shackle from the side that is threaded. Then with the hanger cable thimble and wishbone pad eye in place, screw in the shackle pin and secure the end with the cotter ring through the eye of the pin.

Bill Spencer - LIONHEART, NS30U 352 Hyde Park, NY

On Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 3:29:32 PM UTC-4, Brian Chipman wrote:
...The port forward shackle had come undone and all the weight of the wishbone was now on the starboard shackle.

Brian Chipman

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Aug 8, 2019, 5:01:17 PM8/8/19
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Thanks very much.

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Bill Spencer

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Aug 8, 2019, 5:06:29 PM8/8/19
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Bob, yes, that's the safety pennant to keep the wishbone from falling on your head if the sheet were to fail or run out quickly.  If you can't find it, any rigging shop can make one up for you. Stainless cable with a thimble at each end.  Shackle one end to the bottom of the topping lift cable and the other end to the pad eye on the rear of the wishbone casting.

Bill Spencer - LIONHEART, NS30U 352 Hyde Park, NY

Ernie Abugov N22 - #56 "Moustaches" Toronto

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Aug 8, 2019, 7:11:28 PM8/8/19
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Or ......    a length of Dyneema tied from thimble at the end of the topping lift cable to the end of the wishbone. Adjust it's length so that if the topping lift runs free, the boom stops before it conks you on the head.

Ernie A. in Toronto

Allen Perrins

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Aug 8, 2019, 10:20:51 PM8/8/19
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Hi

Brian if it will be of comfort to you sleeping, even if both hanger lines had let go, the 
wishbone will be in poor trim but should go nowhere because it it being held by the
ckoker line.
These boats are bulletproof, just don't use real bullets !

Al

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Spencer
Sent: Aug 8, 2019 4:58 PM
To: INA Nonsuch Discussion Group
Subject: Re: Wish Bone Shackles and mousing

Brian, the easiest way to secure the wishbone hanger shackles is to use a cotter ring. Place the ring over the opposite leg of the shackle from the side that is threaded. Then with the hanger cable thimble and wishbone pad eye in place, screw in the shackle pin and secure the end with the cotter ring through the eye of the pin.

Bill Spencer - LIONHEART, NS30U 352 Hyde Park, NY

On Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 3:29:32 PM UTC-4, Brian Chipman wrote:
...The port forward shackle had come undone and all the weight of the wishbone was now on the starboard shackle.

Capt. Mike

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Aug 9, 2019, 6:46:46 AM8/9/19
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For 15 years I have  used  two heavy  duty carabiners instead of shackles at the end of the hanger lines. Never had a problem and so easy to hook and unhook the wishbone at the beginning and end of the season.  Minimizes time on the ladder and no shackle pin worries.

Brian Chipman

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Aug 9, 2019, 6:49:40 AM8/9/19
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Thanks to all for your input.

Sent from my iPad

John Alexander Stewart

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Aug 9, 2019, 7:42:36 AM8/9/19
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Mike:

On Fri, Aug 9, 2019 at 6:46 AM 'Capt. Mike' via INA Nonsuch Discussion Group <INA-Nonsuch-Di...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
For 15 years I have  used  two heavy  duty carabiners instead of shackles at the end of the hanger lines.

I REALLY like that idea.

Can I put one on the table?

One thing I found this past spring when lifting the boom with the halyard was to pull the boom back with the reefing lines. Made the hangers hang within an easy reach, beside the mast. Otherwise, I was finding my arms not long enough and getting the shackles on was really difficult.

John NS26C 046 Kingston ON.

Fred Rachwitz

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Aug 9, 2019, 8:17:10 AM8/9/19
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I have to wonder about the use of carabiners for that purpose. Any engineers out there who could address that?  I know that I had one of the original (I believe) shackles break and it’s a scary event. Decided to go with the best heaviest duty shackles available which would go through the boom eyes.  Also had new hanger cables made to accommodate the heavier shackles. I sleep well. 

Fred Rachwitz
Concerto
NS 30 U #445
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Northern Lake Michigan

Sent from Fred's iPad Air Gen 3
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Brian Chipman

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Aug 9, 2019, 9:02:36 AM8/9/19
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Thanks Fred, I'm curious of the conditions when yours broke and what resulted. Thanks, Brian

Tom Schoenhofer, North Star, 26C#28, Penetang

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Aug 9, 2019, 12:21:33 PM8/9/19
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While you're at it, mouse the shackles on your anchor and chain.

Last week we were in Spider bay and a nice new Beneteau anchored in front of us. In the morning he was beside us. When he pulled up his chain there was nothing on the end. The wind was light. He was lucky.

Tom
26C #28 North Star
Penetang

Fred Rachwitz

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Aug 9, 2019, 4:40:46 PM8/9/19
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Brian - I am not really sure of the conditions because I actually do not know when it fractured. When my wishbone was dropped in the fall the rigger found the shackle broken, on the side of the U, not the pin. So it seems that the boom likely did not change position but was unknowingly in a very questionable state. The shackles were not impressive in appearance and had no manufacturer labels. I have to assume that they were Garhauer, but I refuse to hold that against them since I am not sure. Today I am totally impressed with Garhauer hardware, have purchased quite a few replacement pieces and intend to buy more. I may have a picture or I think I still have the shackle and can get a pic to send. 

Fred Rachwitz
Concerto
NS 30 U #445
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Northern Lake Michigan

Sent from Fred's iPad Air Gen 3

Brian Chipman

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Aug 10, 2019, 7:25:42 AM8/10/19
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Thanks very much, all good info. 

Sent from my iPhone
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