Aquarius Sail Owners

What is the proper way to make the bottom end of the side stay (shroud) for the ARC21. I just replaced the standing rigging, the rigger used stainless thimbles with a double swage. The problem is that the lower swage gets in the way if I try to rake the mast, it is limiting the thimble from going past the 2nd hole because the swage is too fat to enter the attachment area.

Should the thimble be replaced be a marine eye?

You have it figured out correctly, Eric. The factory shrouds terminate with marine eye fittings at the lower end. A thimble and sleeve swage is cheaper but it is so fat that it compromises the shroud adjustment with shroud levers. It is all part of the righting system that comes on your boat.
Bill

Bill,

Do you suppose I can have the rigger un swage them and re rig it with an eye without creating a safety issue?

Eric,
You and the rigger are in unknown territory unmaking a sleeve treminal and then reswaging a new fitting over that same portion of the wire. I do not know from experience the answer to your question. I do know that it is not normally done. I do know that the wire is perminately compressed under a sleeve swage. Therefore it is unlikely that to reswage over a wire that is now slightly smaller in diameter will have full strength. I would not risk it. The potential of damaging the sails and mast and ruining another weekend of sailing is not worth it.
It looks/ sounds to me like your rigger did not duplicate your old rigging with new identical parts. I would think the rigger should replace your wires with new wires of the same length, diameter and terminal end fittings. This should not be your problem. This is the riggers problem for not duplicating your original rigging. It is no different than if he had made up a new wire of the wrong length.
Bill

Unfortunatly, I received the boat with this style rigging and then took that rigging to get it duplicated.

A note to al of you. don't fool with the specs, it will cost you later. (or it will cost the next owner)

Eric,
You are really having a hard time with this particular boat. The previous owner changed many things including the sails, the standing rigging, the running rigging and the hulls are pretty beat up. It is going to take a significant amount of money to return this boat to factory specifications. Then it will sail like it should and you will be pleased with its performance. I'll be glad to help anyway I can.
Bill