Hi Murray, 1. I have a tensioner on the forestay so that I can easily insert the clevis pin when I get the mast up. The original method is an exercise in frustration. There is no way to hold the mast and put enough tension on the forestay in order to insert the clevis pin in the bow fitting. That is a two man operation and still is mighty difficult.
The answer is a lever tensioning device. This allows you to fasten the slightly loose forestay and then, tension it. I used WEST P/N 246175 Quick Release Shroud Levers, and instead of a clevis pin and a ring, I use a Ball-Lok Quick-Release Pin - Page 197 in my 1999 WEST Catalog. 2. With this hardware installed, I now run the jib halyard to my bow fitting (I don't have a bow pulpit), and back to the cockpit jam cleats. With mast bolt in the fitting, and everything on the mast running clear, I just walk the mast upright and then complete the job by pulling on the jib halyard and securing it in the cam cleat. Then I can go forward, insert my Ball-Lok pin in the Quick Release Shroud Lever at the bow fitting, and the job is done. Next you tension the Quick Release Shroud Lever, lock it in place with the pin that is supplied with the fitting, and the mast is up and ready, well almost ready to go sailing (after you put on the boom and the sails). Connie M15 #400 LEPPO _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
