I just replaced the stock closed-body turnbuckles with some nice Hayn open-body TBs. We're planning to keep the existing wire for another year, to spread out the cost. The new TBs are a little longer than the old -- handy for the lower shrouds, which were borderline too short, but not for the uppers, which are borderline too long. With the rig rough-tuned, we only have about one turn left before the TB bottoms out.
Our Mk1 has a bi-level chainplate, with the upper shroud mounting higher and in front. The inner shroud is maybe 3/4" lower and 1" aft of the upper.
Is there any compelling reason I can't swap the upper shroud to the lower, aft chainplate hole? Now that we've got our spreaders raked back four inches or so, that seems like the preferred location anyhow. And the added length would get the turnbuckle back into its useful range.
Thoughts? Anyone done it?
Swapping shroud placements
Re: Swapping shroud placements
Check the length of the inners when the mast is down. A problem with the original chainplate locations on some early boats.