need new forestay tang

[Megunticook]

Hope everyone had a good winter.

I stupidly used the wrong sized clevis pin where the forestay attaches to the mast tang. I think what happened is that when I made a new forestay using Sta-Loks I somehow ordered a fork with the wrong size pin and in my haste getting the mast prepped last spring didn't stop and notice. Not good.

Anyway, I made it through the season but in the fall while removing the standing rigging noticed the too-small pin had deformed the hole in the tang.

So...anybody have a source for these tangs? Looks like a Schaeffer but a quick Google search didn't turn up the right tang.

Thanks for any help. And don't be a blockhead like me.

[Jim Walsh]

Schaefer might have one lurking in their warehouse, give them a call when you have precise measurements. They had non-catalog components available to rebuild my no longer in production foot blocks a few years ago. If that doesn’t work a local machine shop can weld the hole closed and drill a new one for you.
A new replacement would be best as stainless work hardens over time.

[Paul D.]

If the replacement idea fails you could drill out to a bigger size and use a larger pin. Unless you just want to replace as it is so old. I doubt that it is the weak link in the system. To be sure though you could look up the strength ratings of that amount and thickness of stainless.

[Frenchy]

If it was mine, I'd remove the tang, heat to a dull cherry red and hammer the deformed area flat. That will mostly
restore the hole to its round shape and also remove the work hardening. Polish and use the correct size pin.
I would not drill the tang oversize. Replacing the tang is of course another good option. Good luck and
good for you for being conscientious. - Jean

[Megunticook]

Thanks for the tips. I don't think I'll drill a bigger hole, don't want to compromise strength on the tang.

I emailed Robinhood (nay), Schaeffer (no reply yet), and Rig-Rite (no reply).

Another option might be to buy a new tang, which I see on the Schaeffer site, and then have a local welder remove the old one and weld the new one on the strap.

I'll report back with results. Thanks again. This is such a critical piece I want to do it right. I was amazed how much the smaller sized pin deformed the tang hole in just one season, but that forestay has a tremendous amount of tension on it.

[s2sailorlis]

It almost looks to me that there wasn’t a fair lead off the forestay as it looks like it’s gouging the face of the tang as well, hard to tell... Also I didn’t think you could heat stainless as it weakens the material...?

[Frenchy]

Heating stainless is perfectly safe. It can be welded, forged, bent with heat with no ill effects. Forging
under high heat actually makes the material stronger, not weaker. Aluminum, on the other hand, is manufactured
with a certain temper (T-6 for example, as in 6061-T-6). Heating that will destroy the temper and affect
strength. Careful consideration has to be made when welding it. - Jean

[Megunticook]

Update: Rig-Rite came through with the part, SP-052, $219. I'm sure it would coast at least that much to buy a new tang and have a welder replace the old one on the original assembly.

Not sure what to say about the "gouging" you see on the face of the tang. That tang was in its 35th year of service last season. Maybe the angle of the tang was slightly off? I'm sure things flex and move around quite a bit up there under sail.

Expensive mistake perhaps but good to have a brand new piece for such a critical location.