Independent guide: If you find any of these, stop loading the component hard and have a rigger inspect it.

Quick answer

Replace or have inspected immediately: broken wire strands, cracked swages or fittings, bent turnbuckles or toggles, elongated pin holes and missing split pins. Investigate promptly: rust weeping from terminals, leaks and staining at chainplates, a leeward shroud that goes very slack, and new noises from the rig.

Warning signs

Sign Urgency Next step
Broken strand Immediate Replace the stay — see standing rigging replacement
Cracked swage Immediate Replace the stay — see swaging
Bent toggle or turnbuckle Immediate Replace; check alignment
Elongated pin hole High Replace fitting
Rust weeping Investigate Inspect closely — see corrosion
Leaking chainplate Investigate See chainplate replacement
Slack leeward shrouds Investigate Check tune — see rig tuning
Stiff furler Investigate See furler service
New creaks or bangs Investigate Find the source before sailing hard

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep sailing with one broken strand?

A single broken strand in 1x19 wire is widely treated as a reason to replace that stay before loading it hard again, because it signals fatigue and the remaining strands carry more load. Reduce sail and load on that side and arrange replacement.