Re Rigging a schooner with SS7x7 Nicopress

[pelorus32]

Originally Posted by Bosco

Just a quick comment but soft eyes on the mast sorta/kinda makes me think Dynex Dux... It would certainly be my first choice for a Colvin Gazelle.

Whilst I don't know the Colvin designs so I won't comment on using it for this boat, I do have a view about heat set Dyneema. I'm currently putting my money where my mouth is and having a 32 foot Lyle Hess cutter re-rigged in heat set Dyneema.

I've been watching the material for about 5-6 years and I've looked at some lovely rigging jobs done with it. I think it's got to the stage that the brave and adventurous souls have done the development work; we know a lot about this material and the best way to use it; we know about it's behaviour in different circumstances...It's no longer pioneering stuff. As someone who had re-rigged a large boat with it said to me when I asked whether I should use heat set Dyneema: "You're asking the wrong question. The right question is "why would you ever use anything else"". Accepting some hyperbole, there's a lot of truth in that.

My comments would be: First you have more choices in heat set Dyneema than Dynex Dux. Look around and ask advice. Second - use a product with an over braid, sized for the core. Third - whilst, on the face of it, this material looks like a DIY godsend, I reckon it's the same as most other stuff: use professional help to get it right.

Perhaps Joe H or Brion have a view on using it for this vessel. It does sound intuitively sensible for soft eyes...

[Joe Henderson]

Steve,

I must admit, I did not know what a Colvin junk rigged schooner was, so, after actually doing some research into the vessel, I reckon that Dyneema rigging will serve ( no pun intended ) you well on this boat.

Your problem is that you are in Panama and I do not know who would be able to help you down there.

You would have to tot up the lengths and sizes you need - as Brion advises, run the numbers or find the specs on-line, maybe, then order the components and make it up yourself.... OR, measure carefully and get a complete set made up and sent to you for installation, not an easy or quick process.

Dyneema is fine for drop over eyes. Make sure any thumb cleats or lands and bolsters are fair and smooth.


If you are going to stay with wire, then stainless 7X7 is fine if you can get it - use copper Talurit ferrules and get the eyes hydraulically pressed- someone in Panama will surely have the machine and dies. You will probably have to source the ferrules in the States or Europe. Spencer Rigging in Cowes will have all the wire and components in stock.
The exact ferrule code depends on the wire size and construction and available dies ( see experience, below ) also, depending on the wire size and construction, thimbles will be a problem, but Crosby do some beauties.

Stay away from 7x19.

If the loft you are going to use is experienced, then they should be able to Talurit stainless 1x19 in a satifactory manner, experience is the key word here! Thimble choice, ferrule selection and pressing procedure and soft eye configuration are of paramount importance.

You have a job on your hands, and not necesarily one for the inexperienced or faint hearted, good luck and keep asking questions on here,

Joe.