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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

shroud covers

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gmcdent
1st Mate

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USA
41 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/17/2004 : 06:18:02

I am still bringing my C25 back to life after neglect by former owner. I have new shroud covers---the kind with the slit running the full length. Putting them on isn't easy even with the split. Should they be heated with a heat gun or boiling water, etc to soften them? Or is there a special tool to spread the slit so you can work the shroud into the cover. I have had six sitting in the cockpit for a week and can only get about 6 inches on the shroud and then I give up 10 minutes later. Better to be sailing.!!!!!
Help!

Thanks

George C. on At Last

Edited by - on

rclift
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 11:21:09

I know what you mean. I had some success in the past pressing the split side onto the shroud while applying thumb pressure to the other side.

I put all new standing rigging on this year and decided to leave the covers off. When I took the covers off the old rigging there was quite a collection of mildew and gunk under them and other than for looks I am unable to find another positive reason for keeping them on. Besides, covering up potential problems or damage to the shroud doesn't seem like a wise thing to do. As tight fitting as they were the sheet from my genoa would occasionally snag the forward shroud cover and pull it partly off causing a problem.

Edited by - on

dean
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 12:34:13

what is the practical advantage of a shroud cover?

Edited by - on

Charlie Vick
Captain

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USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 12:44:43

To prevent sheet chafing?

CVick
PanaceaII '81 C25 #2439 SRSK

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 14:13:45

Here's my $0.02 Never used them. If there's a sharp edge use some rigging tape, otherwise "let it breathe"

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay"
C250 # 618 Currently FOR SALE
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 21:18:35

An expert opinion (not from me): My surveyor recommended I remove the shroud covers if I bought the boat--he said they only capture and retain contaminants, especially salt (in a saltwater environment). I did, and as others have reported, found an ugly mess underneath.

As for preventing chafe, just now I rubbed a paper towel, hard, against one of my old shrouds--back and forth about 50 times. No wear--it just flattened a little, as it would have if I rubbed it on glass. The split edge on the covers might chafe more than that.

Now, shroud rollers (large tubes with caps on both ends) might be another thing, especially on the forward lowers, to prevent them from catching the hitch on the clew when tacking. I've had just a couple of instances where I thought I could have used them.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/17/2004 21:19:53

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2004 : 11:00:54

Dave,

I've been using 3/4" plastic conduit on my forward lowers for years. The fit is a little snug around the turnbuckles initially but once they wear in they work great to keep those pesky bowlines from hanging up. The grey-colored conduit looks faily decent as well.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

Edited by - on

Mark Maxwell
Captain

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USA
329 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2004 : 16:21:05

I agree with the others that the tight fitting shroud covers cause more damage than they are worth. If you are trying to simply make older shrouds look pretty, they are probably due to be replaced. I did that with a C-22 I had a few years ago and the discoloration from the shrouds started to weep out of the split and stained the covers. So I was back to the original problem. If you want to protect your sail from wear, or tacking hang-ups, I've found that the 1" pvc idea works much better.

DaveC- A thought about your knots hanging up on the shrouds, you may be trying to sheet in the heads'l too fast. Try allowing the boat to make it's tack, set the mains'l and fall off just abit to allow the heads'l to fully cross over before you sheet it in. Then as it fills head-up again to your intended heading. With the 150, a little more time is needed to allow for this to happen (unless you have someone on the foredeck who can make the pass by hand). If you simply try to winch it across, you can damage your sheet, sail, shroud and/or even the chain stay. (just a thought )

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2004 : 21:33:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Mark Maxwell
 
DaveC- A thought about your knots hanging up on the shrouds, you may be trying to sheet in the heads'l too fast. Try allowing the boat to make it's tack, set the mains'l and fall off just abit to allow the heads'l to fully cross over before you sheet it in. Then as it fills head-up again to your intended heading. With the 150, a little more time is needed to allow for this to happen (unless you have someone on the foredeck who can make the pass by hand). If you simply try to winch it across, you can damage your sheet, sail, shroud and/or even the chain stay. (just a thought )
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks, Mark... I do that. But I use the infamous "cow hitch" on my genoa sheet, and it is, due to its shape, slightly more prone to haning up, especially when there's enough breeze to put some real pressure on the genny before the sheets have followed it across. As I said, it's only happened a couple of times in four seasons and I zigged upwind to free it. But I can see the possible value of PVC rollers on the forward lowers. (I don't have any plans to install them.)

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2004 : 11:18:03

I have schedule 40 1" pvc pipe about 5' long on the forward and upper shrouds. This works great for my 150. With the 110 all I needed was a couple of feet on the forward shrouds. They are extreamly easy to install and save sails etc. PVC pipe is much less $$ than the stuff you get at west marine and you can cut them to whatever length you desire.

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2004 : 13:11:04

Matt, I agree that PVC from Home Depot is the way to go if you insist on rollers (That's probably where West Marine buys theirs, then cuts it up, and triples the price). But I've found, like Dave, that if you'll let the foresail backwind on the tack, not only will it push the bow around, it will flip the clew, knot and all, to the lee side with no problems.

Another advantage to deleting the shroud covers is that my kids can't annoy me by flipping them up the shrouds to see how high they can make them go. They will, however, find something else!

Brooke

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.