Page updated: 27 October 2016
The Original Method for securing the shrouds with lanyard is decribed elsewhere. Over the years owners who did not like this approach for securing the fore stay or shrouds have fitted a variety of hardware. However, there is a problem with fitting many bottle screws. The connectors often do not have the flexibility that permits each line its correct alignment.
One solution to is to use one bottle screw and retain cord for the second shroud, as seen on the left below. Although hardly satisfactory, this does allow the second line to join to the shackle at a different angle both forwards and inwards compared to the bottle screw. To the right is seen what is probably the most common solution, the fitting of a small triangular plate. With the extra flexibility provided by the additional link together with slightly over-sized holes in the plate, the angles required can be accommodated.
The second picture (below) also demonstrates a solution to another issue: the protection of a genoa or furling jib from fragging against the shrouds. In this case wide diameter aluminium tubing has been fitted to the outer shroud. Because of its diameter it was possible to fit this to existing rigging, although here the inner shroud offers no protection for the headsail, so perhaps is not ideal.
Below, two more options are shown. When a professional rigger saw the first, he commented that the "batten screw" was upside down, though he conceded that was perhaps only convention. As fitted, it worked. However, which ever way up the "screw" was fitted, if it needed to be tightened, it would probably foul either the cabin roof or the shackles on the triangular plate. The owner of this boat, based on the Norfolk Broads, has also reported that unless narrower shackles than those seen here were used, there was too much flexibility and it was possible, when lowering the mast, for the assembly to get twisted and cause difficulties when raising the mast again.
The second photo shows another solution, utilising an easily obtained bolt and a pair of simple links, which were made up for the owner, certainly one of the neater possible solutions, though you can still make out the slight twist needed to accommodate the inner shroud.
