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don't panic. The long pin from BWY does not move out. Well I don't know why in physics way. But it simply does. Cool down
And if you don't tape the ringding to secure.
Or put in this

Starscream wrote:I always tap it back into position at the dock, but I'm sure it's always back to the ringding in a few minutes of sailing.

Maybe try putting it in from the other side?

Tomfoolery wrote:

Starscream wrote:I always tap it back into position at the dock, but I'm sure it's always back to the ringding in a few minutes of sailing.

Maybe try putting it in from the other side?

Things always work themselves loose, it seems.

NiceAft wrote:Would a cotter pin give you more confidence than a ring ding?

Yeah I was thinking about something other than the ringding. A cotter pin might be better but I de-rig and re-rig a fair amount in a season, and cotter pins would make that process harder, not easier, I think, and I want to avoid anything that makes that process longer.

Reduce / eliminate potential of pin movement by properly tuning rig so forestay doesn't momentarily unload.

Reduce / eliminate potential of pin movement by reducing length of pin, or closing the space between chainplate and ring-ding with washer or other device.

If ring-ding is too awkward to install or remove, try a larger diameter ring.

I’m having a hard time understanding why this concern about the pin moving.

Once the pin has moved along to the point where the ringding prevents any more slippage, what difference does it make whether the pin is shorter, or there are washers. It does not make a difference, the ring ding is in the same position. Why are you worried at all.

There are thousands of Mac owners. How many have had the ring ding fail, and have a mast fall. I’m sure it has happened, but the odds may be as good as wining the Mega Ball Lottery. OK, slight exaggeration, but you get the point.

Replace the ring ding at the beginning of each sailing season, or every six months. Then enjoy sailing and don’t worry.

Really, I don’t think this is any more probable than any number of things that can go wrong on a sailboat.



Ray

I'm with you on that Ray. My offering of simple solutions is directed to the OP who, as new to sailing and new to Macs, describes the issues as 'scary'.

Frankly, I don't share the concern. If my pin moves, it stops at the ring-ding. I did upsize that ring for the ease I mentioned.

Good to hear these opinions.

I guess the ringding has done it's job for a long time without failure and I'm worried about nothing. I just don't like that the ringding is holding the pin in place.

Alexis wrote: I am also very afraid of the mast falling on the cockpit (we have three young children). I check the pin regularly and I know it is in good condition, but I also added a line at the bottom of the mast which would slow it down in case it falls. This line is attached to the large pin of the mast raising system (holes at the bow on the mast base) and to a permanent anchor I added where the baby stays used to connect to the mast.


I hope this helps!

Curious about this mod? A six foot line parallel up the mast from its base to is going to hold the mast up in case of forestay failure?

Where's the mechanical advantage? Is the line rope or wire and how are the ends attached to their anchor points (swage fitting, cable clamp,...)? How exactly did the mod perform when you fail tested it?

Mrskrska wrote: I am thinking that it is quite scary that mast safety/integrity is riding on this little pin holding fast?

These boats and boats in general have a lot of little pins that safety/integrity rely on... the rigging, steering, prop nut,...

well, the only pin I never worried was the pin from the forestay. The big one from BWY never worked out till the rinding.

BUT is is hardly advised to check the ringdings as often you can/like. At the end of the winter 3 ringdings came loose of the shrouds And also ones I lost the stay adjuster during trailering.
So I started to tape the ringdings... and hope the hold better.

I had the same problem with my fore stay attachment some years back. The headsail sock creates a lot of windage, enough to vibrate that forestay pin out. The pin that holds the fore stay to the fore tang chain plate.
I upgraded the pin to the next size up and discarded the goofy ring ding thing and used a small shackle instead. The ring ding can eventually be sheared off but a small shackle will hold for years. This has worked for me many years. It is that sock that causes the shaking.