Since rigging fails inside of the end fittings where they cannot be inspected, prudence dictates that standing rigging be replaced every seven years for boats sailed in salt water, every ten years for those sailed in fresh water.

You should “pre flight” and “post flight” your rig before and after every sail. Every time you sail in more wind than you have sailed in previously with your new rigging, it should be re-tuned.

Maybe. The swaged stud at the bottom of the forestay must pass through the furler. This is possible with most CDI Flexible Furlers, Hood and Schaefer furlers. Some Harken furlers and the Schaefer SnapFurl are too small for the swaged stud to pass through. If you can pull your old forestay out of the top of the furler without cutting the wire, you will likely be able to install a complete replacement forestay in its place.

Use our Trim-2-Fit forestay. Pass the unfinished end through the furler before using two wrenches to install the second end.

A thrust washer is required above the stud. If the foil accidentally drops onto the stud, the thrust washer will prevent the rotating foil from resting on the top of the stud and potentially causing the stud to rotate.

Call Technical Support with:

• The diameter of the forestay
• The diameter of the stud’s thread.

Catalina never installed Harken furlers and we can’t know what a previous owner might have installed. We can only help if you provide the above information.