Dolphin striker question -->

[DaveC]

Hello all,

I'm replacing the bobstay on my Endurance 35. Originally it was a cable but someone in the past put a chain there. I am replacing the chain with new cable and the dolphin striker is the original one for the cable.

Does anyone know if it's a good idea to put some sort of bushing between the cable (1x19 9/32") and the striker? If so, what material would be good? I was thinking maybe a short piece of garden hose or something?

I'm trying to find out what other people have done with theirs.

Regards,
Dave

[BostonFlicka]

Dave,

I too have a bobstay that was replaced with chain on my Flicka. No dolphin striker though. Personally I would keep the chain. No fittings to be constantly wet (crevice corrosion) and less worry about the bob stay inducing chafe on an anchor or mooring line.

[Pauls]

Hi Dave,

You are running into a good example of the problems of using stainless around saltwater. Where your bobstay contacts the striker friction between them will probably break thru the oxide on the stainless. If you look at the galvanic scale stainless has two different (and quite far apart) potentials - one called passive, the other active. Passive means that there is an unbroken oxide layer over the stainless. Active means no oxide. With your bobstay/striker it will be hard not to have both on the bobstay. Meaning that it will attack itself galvanically.

I'd suggest you look at making the bobstay out of solid bar stock. Assuming that your bowsprit is fixed, the solid bar bobstay will be cheaper than the 1x19 plus fittings. It is much more corrosion resistant. I think you'll find it more reliable and longer lived.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Pauls

I'd suggest you look at making the bobstay out of solid bar stock. Assuming that your bowsprit is fixed, the solid bar bobstay will be cheaper than the 1x19 plus fittings. It is much more corrosion resistant. I think you'll find it more reliable and longer lived.

Yea but as soon as he hits a low dock or something the bar will be bent. At least the cable has a little give to it.

[DaveC]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm changing out the chain because it was galvanized (and painted) and the lower shackle and last link was rusting, and when I tried to undo the shackle the eye in the pin snapped off so I had to cut the shackle off. I switched to cable the same size as the rest of my standing rigging. (9/32) with staloks so I don't have to deal with it again ( hopefully).

I used a piece of fuel hose as a bushing in the striker.

I learned to sail on a Flicka when I was young. My grandfather owned it. Alas, I was too young to appreciate the ruggedness of it back then, and also because it was the only boat I knew.

Some pics of my new bobstay with a fuel hose bushing:






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[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by BostonFlicka

Dave,

I too have a bobstay that was replaced with chain on my Flicka. No dolphin striker though. Personally I would keep the chain. No fittings to be constantly wet (crevice corrosion) and less worry about the bob stay inducing chafe on an anchor or mooring line.

[SkiprJohn]

I was going to suggest PVC but it looks like you got her done. Nice installation. Its generally recommended that you use larger gauge wire than your forestay. I can't tell if you did or not.
The striker on my Mariner was a single stainless tube.

kind regards,

[DaveC]

Well, I used the same size. It is what it is now I guess.



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[SkiprJohn]

Don't worry too much about the wire size unless you're going for long passages. Check out Skene's Elements of Yacht Design for the right wire size.
kind regards,

[DaveC]

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.


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