I have the smaller size quick-release shroud levers on the side stays of my
gunter rig. They enable me to unstep my mast by releasing one side stay to
lower the mast without disconnecting any stay.
The one thing I don't like is that it releases very suddenly when the pin
is pulled and can injure a hand in the process. I always wrap a
handkerchief around it when releasing it. Probably I have too much tension
on the stay, and it may be okay at the tension it is designed for.
[If any gunter rig owners are reading this, I should explain that I have
sawed off my mast so I can step it on the cabintop instead of the cabin
sole. It works fine but didn't decrease rigging time as much as I had
hoped.]
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Sometimes gunter, sometimes lateen rigged
Mountain View, CA
>Does anyone have any experience with quick release shroud levers on
>their stays? I saw some in the West Marine catalog (but not in the
>store here in Anchorage). They look as though they could be quite
>useful for speeding up the process of stepping/unstepping the mast. I
>would like a quick release connector for attaching the stays -- is this
>it, or does anyone have experience with another system?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Carl (#1803)
>
>PS -- thanks for the great response on how, or whether, to straighten my
>mast!