The above photo shows two jib fingers side by side (viewed from above). The fore stay runs up and down inside the crook of the U. Note the wear on the left hand jib finger in the crook of the U.

 

The finger on the left, with the clevis pin, is a replacement bought in 2007 and the one on the right came with the boat circa 2002. The new ones are thinner metal and more quickly develop a sharp edge that can cut hands and the head of your spinnaker. However both old and new fingers develop a razor like edge as they run up and down the fore stay. For example, after three days racing during the Nationals in 2007, new sections had to be patched into the head of our spinnaker. Cost £40.

 

 

So what is the solution? Ideally the distance between the jib halyard and the fore stay should not decrease as you go up the mast, i.e. the mast fittings should be moved apart. However this is not a practical solution for existing boats. This winter I will speak to my friendly stainless steel welder and ask him to put a blob of weld inside the crook of the U, effectively making a thicker runner for the bit that takes the wear. I hope the extra metal will allow the finger to be used for longer before the fore stay wears away the inside of the jib finger. Anything to increase the service interval has to be a good.

 

Below, picture of entire jib finger to help identify the part I’m referring to. Again, clevis pin in the newer finger.