swages onto rod

[Brian Duff]

I have done this before - while 'learning' the art of rigging at some of the shops I worked at early on. I have also, like you, seen boats with old gangs of rigging made this way and they are still sailing, so it clearly works. I can not speak for weather this was ever a system sold by a rod/ rigging fitting builder.... what do the 'old' guys know?

One real concern is that some riggers - the one who showed me this system of using wire swages on rod - cut grooves in the rod in three or four places, completely around the rod, to 'increase grip'. I suppose that this rather weakens the rod than strengthens the fitting. woah! Another concern is that the rigger that showed me mad no attempt to actually measure the rod diameter and consider how solid compresses differently than wire, etc... probably destroyed the calibration of the swage machine at the shop there when he did it too!!! Real scary is that I know that shop doesn't 'guage' their swages, nor has that machine had any service.... Woah! All kinda riggers out there....

I would not be involved in this system beyond recommend that, although it is a working system, no rod manufacturer makes fittings like this and so for complete security it ought to be changed to a conventional system. Or a bigger insurance policy bought if the boat is raced inshore only...