Replace without stepping mast?

[BravoVita]

There is a small standing rig wire connected from the very front of my bow sprit to a lower point on my bow hull. This is keeping tension on my forestay. I found the piece holding the lower part of the wire to be badly corroded and failing so I will replace it however I am not sure how I would do this without stepping down the mast. Anyone have some info on temporarily supporting the mast or forestay while I replace this part? 28' sovereign center cocpit

[Shawn67]

You should be able to run your halyard(s) to cleats up front and tension them to take the load off the forestay and bobstay. Some replace bobstays with chain or solid bar stock.

Shawn

[SURV69]

I assume you have a furled sail ...

take your main sheet and tie a knot(don't know what knot), a foot or so above the shackleb, then add a line ... a little longer than your mast height, to the shackle ...

you should be able to raise the shackle(and extra line), up to the block on the masthead and use that line as a temporary forestay(in calm weather), on a deck eye or cleat, to release some tension on your forestay ... just enough to somewhat slacken the actual forestay, which should allow you to changed your lower plate ... or whatever, without worrying about too much tension from the bowsprit.

[Gudgeon]

Agree with Shawn67. Loosen back stay a bit then take jib halyard to a cleat forward.

[roverhi]

If you have double lower shrouds, you should only need to loosen the headstay or backstay to replace the Bobstay. Bobstay is the name of wire that you are replacing. Using a halyard attached to the deck to temporarily take the load of the headstay wouldn't hurt.

Chain is a traditional material for a bobstay but it's not very good. Chain stretches a lot under load, eventually rusts, and isn't as strong as a properly spec'd wire bobstay. Unless you are fond of flying pirate flags, would stick with wire. You can easily make up the stay yourself using StaLok terminals and wire. FWIW, the bobstay is typically the highest stressed stay on a boat.