Is the forward pad eye strong enough for storm jib? 1990 Beneteau 50/M500

[OpenRange2025]

Hi all! I have a 1990 Bene M500. We are looking into adding an inner forestay/solent stay for a storm jib. The mast is already set up for a cutter rig, and there is a deck plate just aft of the anchor locker with a pad eye that looks like it is meant to secure the cutter stay. Photo attached.

We want to confirm this pad eye could hold a stay with a storm jib in 50+ kts. It has 3 bolts that are glassed in around the anchor locker bulkhead.

Has anyone used this for storm sails? Is it strong enough in your experience? Thank you in advance!!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

We want to confirm this pad eye could hold a stay with a storm jib in 50+ kts.

I think I could confirm it won't hold unless there's more to it than we can see in that photo.

and there is a deck plate just aft of the anchor locker with a pad eye

Don't really follow what that means. Only deck plates I know are are access deck plates :

It has 3 bolts that are glassed in around the anchor locker bulkhead.

Nor that comment either, but it doesn't sound very strong if they're only glassed into "something" without a sizeable backing plate.

The only way I would trust that pad eye is if it had machine screws going through a 1/4" SS (not aluminum) backing plate of at least 6" X 6" dimensions.

Can you show what the underside of the pad eye looks like from inside the cabin ? From the one photo, it sounds pretty shaky.

 

[TimFromLI]

That looks like the same pad eye as on my '93 Beneteau - it's a Wichard. I think they are only meant for jack lines. I re-bed a loose one last year and there was no backing plate only washers. I would not trust that for a sail. Even if it didn't get ripped out of the deck, I think the pad eye would fail. Big boat big wind big forces.

 

[jssailem]

there is a deck plate just aft of the anchor locker with a pad eye that looks like it is meant to secure the cutter stay.

Looks can be deceiving.
Generally shrouds will be anchored to the hull with chainplates. A forestay on a cutter would attach to a chainplate. The chainplate attached to a bulkhead which is attached to the hull is sometimes used. Or the chainplate attached to a cross beam under the deck that has a cable/rod running from where the chainplate is attached down to the keel.

Why the strong attachment? Because we want the mast to stay standing when sails are attached to the rig even during severe wind conditions. Losing a mast is a life changing event.

This is a query you need to have with a marine engineer who can identify the specific stresses that will occur with your planned sail addition. While it is fun to share thoughts about your challenge you need to know the correct answer for your boat. Your life depends on you getting it right.

 

[Davidasailor26]

That looks like the same pad eye as on my '93 Beneteau - it's a Wichard. I think they are only meant for jack lines. I re-bed a loose one last year and there was no backing plate only washers. I would not trust that for a sail. Even if it didn't get ripped out of the deck, I think the pad eye would fail. Big boat big wind big forces.

I agree - The 37 has two similar padeyes on the foredeck for tethers or jack lines. Unless the inside looks much more reinforced than I expect I wouldn’t trust it for more than that.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I have the same, identical, pad-eye on my foredeck aft of the anchor locker. I asked this same question, I believe, in this forum years ago. I recall the consensus was that the pad-eye would have to be “reinforced” to use as a stay attachment. It might be there as a jackline attachment, but there are two forward deck pad-eyes to which jacklines were attached when I got the boat already. I use it as the foreguy attachment for the spinnaker and whisker poles.