Pin sizes and rod replacement
 

I'm refitting a 1976 one ton racer to go cruising. I'd like to replace the rod rigging with wire.

It's a discontinuous rig. The V1 shrouds are -17 rods (17,500 lbs) with 1/2" pins at both ends.

Looking at Navtec's website, the biggest wire diameter I can get that fits swageless terminals with 1/2" pins is 5/16" with a breaking strength of 10,300 lbs.

Does this mean the original rig's rod was specified for it's stretch characteristics, rather than breaking strength, like many PBO rigs are now? And therefore it's safe to assume the pins are the weakest link and I can use the 5/16" wire, providing I'm prepared to accept a stretchier rig?

Or do I need to come up with some way to put bigger pins in the chainplates and use 7/16" wire for 19,340 lbs breaking strength.