"surprise release" ball lock pins

Posted By: Kinney 4.6 #592
Date: 9/14/06 5:53p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Quick-release ball-lock pins (pic) (Don Schroder)

Don, how much experience do you have using these items? I tried one from APS on my forestay because I only dry sail and am constantly stepping and un-stepping my mast. the very first time I used it I was running down wind on Claytor Lake and suddenly realized that the jib and its halyard were the only things holding my mast up...the forestay was flapping loose because the pin had backed out. The thing had one of the balls missing, and it had been there when I rigged and launched the boat. I hated those wire circle clips because with my arthritic hands I have a terible time getting them on and off. I have come up with an alternative securing method using SS deep sea fishing snap swivels. See the picture. It is hooked to the forestay so I don't drop and loose it.