So my dad and I picked up a 1980 Prindle 18 for $500 with trailer last winter, we've managed to fix up the rest of the problems with it but it's still missing the forestay turnbuckle. We've tried ordering a couple of the right size but they never seem to thread right.
I know I can order the whole wire/turnbuckle assembly online, but the standing rigging still looks pretty good and I'm not looking forward to spending $90 just to get a $20 turnbuckle.
Sounds like you could use a portuguese turnbuckle:
https://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures?g2_itemId=80821
Use high quality high strength line like Spectra, Vectran or Dyneema
Great fun boat!
enjoy
SIde note: I have had rigging fail on me after a year or 2 of use
and a falling mast can kill someone - and since i rig on a public beach i (personally) err on the side of caution and replace all standing rigging when i buy a boat unless i know it's history
Ymmv (but please don't rig by me) 🙂
Edited by MN3 on Apr 30, 2018 - 05:48 PM.
slanter wrote: We've tried ordering a couple of the right size but they never seem to thread right.
Did you try to take it in a nautical store - West Marine, etc. - and match the turn buckle barrel?
You do realize that the barrels are threaded opposite hand on each end (left hand threads vs. right hand threads)?
bradinjax mentions a Portuguese windlass, and he is neither kidding nor wrong (and he spelled Portuguese correctly!).
There have been beachcat ocean racers on the west coast safely using a windlass for decades.
klozhald wrote: [quote=slanter]We've tried ordering a couple of the right size but they never seem to thread right.
lo
Did you try to take it in a nautical store - West Marine, etc. - and match the turn buckle barrel?
You do realize that the barrels are threaded opposite hand on each end (left hand threads vs. right hand threads)?
bradinjax mentions a Portuguese windlass, and he is neither kidding nor wrong (and he spelled Portuguese correctly!).
There have been beachcat ocean racers on the west coast safely using a windlass for decades.
Unfortunately I live about three and a half hours from the nearest marine store, so I'm trying not to make that trip for a turnbuckle. I would just use a line, but the threaded fitting I'm looking for a turnbuckle for is crimped onto the forestay so there's nothing to tie it to.
i do recall the 18's do have a interesting rigging forestay
you can contact apsltd or murrays.com and they can get you set up with a marine turnbuckle or the part you need
Please post pics of you sailing the snot out of it 🙂
Edited by MN3 on Apr 30, 2018 - 09:41 PM.
Most forestay's on 18 foot cats are 5/32" diameter cable. The standard size turnbuckle end fitting for a 5/32" diameter cable uses a 1/4-28 thread (assuming it's a US part, which it probably is since it's a Prindle). I would double check the cable diameter and then just call a shop like APS and tell them you need a turnbuckle for a 5/32" diameter cable assembly. If you have a thread gauge, that would be the best approach, so you can confirm the thread size of the stud on the end of the forestay.
Do not "jury rig" your new boat together by tying the forestay up. Your mast will fall down. The mast needs to be properly secured using the correct hardware.
sm
I may have one in my spare parts box.... I'll look when I get home tonight and report back... If so you can have it.