Hi all,

Last weekend we managed a trip out to Loch Lomond with our 26X. Only the second time on the water with this boat.

first problem was one of the trailer brakes was binding and getting hot. A quick adjustment on the motorway hard shoulder sorted that. Then we arrived at the slipway I realised we were missing some vital parts to raise and secure the mast (see later) so we opted to leave it to one side and just motor. Launch went well and engine ran pretty good, but I still have an annoying misfire if I throttle up too far, so we can only manage about 10 knots. Never mind, spent several hours on the water motoring about the islands until on our way back to the slip the engine died. Petrol leaking profusely from the Carburettors. Wind blew us on a shallow beach of an island in the Loch and so had to be rescued by the Rangers rescue boat. All good fun though.

Anyway, to the question.

pictured is my one remaing cabin top bracket that is used by the steady wires (shrouds?) used during the raising of the mast. I foolishly left them in situ during the trail and I lost one on the M74 somewhere. Easy enough to make a replacement but my question is should it be twisted as in the photo or should they be a straight bend? (OK I know that doesn't make sense but I hope you get my drift!)

David