Emergency Shroud/Stay Replacement

A Complete Repair Kit is Available for Prepared Sailors

Feb 19, 2008

A broken shroud or stay is a major headache on a sailboat. Colligo Synthetic Systems has put together a replacement kit that would come in handy after a shroud breaks.

A broken shroud or sailboat stay can severely affect the operation of a sailing vessel and typically occurs at the worst possible moment. The security of the mast can quickly be further become compromised in rough sea state and weather conditions. This has an immediate impact on vessel safety. Depending on how the sailboat rigging is installed, repairs can be expensive and time consuming.

Shrouds and Stays Defined - Sailboat masts are held rigidly in place by lines or wires that are part of the vessel's standing rigging. Standing rigging is rigging that is fixed and does not move. Basic standing rigging consists of stays and shrouds. Stays run fore and aft of the mast, while shrouds provide for its lateral support. Shrouds take their names from the spars that they support.

Searching Google for the term "emergency shroud" produces some fairly morbid results. A graphic of standing rigging can be seen in the article on simple sailboat anatomy.

Emergency Shroud and Stay Repair - As part of their damage control kit, many sailors carry extra shroud material onboard. Colligo Synthetic Systems of Mesa, Arizona has developed an easy to use shroud replacement kit to temporarily replace a broken line or wire for up to 0.635 centimeter (0.25 inch) in diameter and 15 meters (50 feet long). Estimated retail price is US $349. A repair can be made in as little as 15 minutes. Kit components include:

Take time to read the instructions that come with the shroud replacement kit and better prepared to use it. The notion of preparedness has been addressed a number of times here at Boating and Sailing. It is truly amazing to see the difference between a planned response to an equipment failure and an emergency that arises from being unprepared. It is the difference between an enjoyable sailing adventure and unmitigated disaster.

Preparedness can be seen in preventive vessel maintenance, onboard equipment, and the desire to improve personal skills. Learning about your vessel's rigging and how to handle an unexpected failure are hallmarks of a competent sailor.

The copyright of the article Emergency Shroud/Stay Replacement in Sail Boats is owned by Alan Sorum. Permission to republish Emergency Shroud/Stay Replacement in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.