Standing Rigging - Tayana 37 Operation & Maintenance Manual

that there is no distortion or cracking. The outer tips of the spreaders should
be raised above the spreader base so that the compression load is transmitted
down the spreader to the mast and not at an angle which would tend to force
the spreader to bend under load.

3. Standing Rigging

Standing rigging is made up of stainless steel cable with various attachment
fittings of chromed bronze and stainless steel. The wire used is 1/4 or 5/16
inch lxl9 wire. Either size cable is sufficiently strong to bear the rig under
winds of hurricane strength. The lxl9 refers to the winding of 19 single
strands of wire to make the cable. This winding makes the cable stiff and
strong, but it would be unsatisfactory if it were required to run through
blocks or go around sharp corners.
Most TAYANA 37s are delivered with swaged fittings. Swaging is a process
that actually squeezes a hollow cylinder onto the cable. The process was
developed for the aircraft industry, and the strength of the joint is nearly as
great as the tensile strength of the cable.
Some 37's have been delivered with the wedge type fittings that are most
often known by the trade names Sta-Lok or Norseman. These fittings get
their strength from a conical bronze core that is forced against the cable
within the fitting. It too is stronger than the tensile strength of the cable. It
has the added advantage that it can be installed by the owner with two
common adjustable wrenches. It must be remembered, however, that the
wedging cones are not reusable and extras should be carried at sea.
Turnbuckles are generally chromed-bronze cylindrical type. They are made
to be set up with two wrenches – one to hold the cable and one to turn the
turnbuckle itself.
Standing rigging should be inspected regularly. And remember, it does one
no good to simply inspect the bottom fittings and ignore those up on the
mast.
The most common failure is cracked swage fittings. All attachment fittings
should be carefully examined at least once a month. Look at them closely.
Sometimes the cracks are hard to see. If in doubt carefully spray the fitting
with a can of red paint and then wipe the paint off with a hard cloth. If there
is a crack, the paint will get into it and show up when the paint on the fitting
is removed. (A better method is to use a spray can of special dye. The dye
goes into the crack more readily and shows the crack more clearly. Such
dyes are available at better equipped marine and industrial supply houses.)
Any crack is bad but not a cause for panic. As a rule of thumb, if a crack is
V-8