Furlers and Forestay Maintenance

[Sonosailor]

Some questions about forestay maintenance you folks may wish to comment on... I have a 1996 Tobago 35 with a Profurl furler (can't say what model just now as I am at work), over top a swaged 5/16" forestay. The sidestays have damage - broken wires - and one has been replaced with Norseman-type fittings, and the other will be replaced after the removal of the snow tent this spring. Of course, I intend to inspect the forestay before heading offshore, and to get a spare wire.

1. How often should the forestay be checked under the Profurl furling system?

2. What should be checked, and how difficult is it to dismantle the furling system?

3. What parts of a Profurl system might be unuseable after disassemble, or for which a cruiser should have spare parts?

4. Is it likely that a Profurl system placed over a swaged stay will also fit a Norseman system of equal length?

5. The Profurl manual says that typically, shrouds should be renewed every 10 years. The boat surveyor I dealt with said that multihulls are notoriously hard on shrouds, and they should be replaced every 2 years. Any opinions?

As always, I look forward to your comments.