CS27 – Ferralium 255-SD50 – Yacht Rigging

Ocean Yacht Systems are a leading supplier to the Superyacht and high performance yachting market, having built a reputation for delivering high quality rigging, thruster and hydraulic systems for hundreds of high profile vessels. Specialising in the custom design and manufacture sector, the latest materials are used to provide the best leading edge solutions.

Speed, reliability and safety at sea place demands upon the material selection, particularly when high performance yachts are operating at the extremes. Stainless steel has been widely used in such applications for many years, to combat the obvious issue of corrosion. Crevice corrosion is an issue, around washers, gaskets, joints and fixing points. However, standard grades of stainless steel typically offer only half of the strength of carbon steels.

Therefore, super duplex steels offer a two-pronged advantage for such applications. With a pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) exceeding 40, they will have a far superior resistance to pitting and general corrosion. However, Ferralium^® 255-SD50 also offers the highest available proof stress of any super duplex stainless steel.

Ferralium^® 255-SD50 is used in the central sleeve of the ‘furler rod to rod assembly’ (FRTRA). This component is used to connect the front sail of a yacht and allow it to be rolled around the main headstay when not in use – from where it can be ‘unfurled’ when required. The FRTRA must fit within the headstay unit, and therefore is designed with a limit to the maximum outside diameter. Ferralium^® 255-SD50 was specified as the additional strength compared with other super duplex stainless steels allowed it to meet this demanding size constraint.

If you would like more information about our Ferralium^® 255-SD50, please get in touch today.