I have recently purchased a Sirius 22. It's a nice little boat as far as I can see. However, being a racer at heart and planning to race this boat I am concerned about the baby stay. My question is, is the baby stay actually functional? It is obviously a barrier to quick tacks.
Baby Stay
- Thread starter Richard Peters
- Start date
Sailboatdata.com doesn't show that boat with a baby stay'
sailboatdata.com
The baby stay may have been installed by a previous owner. Or maybe we have a terminology mis-communication.
In any event it's hard to imagine a 22' boat that needs a baby stay. If there is no reinforcement of the deck where the stay is on the foredeck I would doubt its value. Reinforcement could be a wire connecting with the hull, or maybe a post of some sort. Or there could be a extra deck beam atwartships in that area.
My guess is that it is un-reenforced, may not even have a backing plate (Just washers). In that case I would conclude that it is not original and probably unnecessary.
SIRIUS 21/22 (CAN) - sailboatdata
Vandestadt & McGruer was the Canadian importer of the American built MacGregor line of trailerable sailboats in early 1970s. The company also built the SIREN 17. The SIRIUS 21/22 is said to be the first North American production-built, ballasted cruising boat with positive flotation. In a more...
sailboatdata.com
In any event it's hard to imagine a 22' boat that needs a baby stay. If there is no reinforcement of the deck where the stay is on the foredeck I would doubt its value. Reinforcement could be a wire connecting with the hull, or maybe a post of some sort. Or there could be a extra deck beam atwartships in that area.
My guess is that it is un-reenforced, may not even have a backing plate (Just washers). In that case I would conclude that it is not original and probably unnecessary.
I tend to agree. I can’t imagine this boat’s mast inverting considering it doesn’t have a backstay adjuster as standard equipment. Thanks
The line drawing on Sailboatdata.com clearly shows a baby stay for this boat. There are lower aft shrouds but no forward lower shrouds. Most likely the single babystay is used in instead of the having a pair of lower forward shrouds.
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Leave it alone. It's part of the mast's lower shroud/stay system. You need to be able to tune the rig properly so you need a counteracting force to the aft lowers. If you're going to let the wire interfere with your tacking, then spend some time on your sail handling technique. No problem. I can suggest a few things, but I'm confident you probably already know them. Anyway, I certainly wouldn't make any changes before sailing it for a while. You can always install a roller on the wire if your crew struggles.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 21,188
If you examine the shroud design symmetry it provides triangular support to maintain the mast in column. You have two side shrouds each side.
One shroud runs from the deck to near the mast head. The shroud is attached to the deck behind the mast base (no spreader mid mast). These are balanced with the fore and aft stays at the bow and the stern.
The second shroud terminates mid mast and is secured to the deck behind the mast base.
Despite the tacking aggravation the baby stay was installed to keep the mast in column as it provides triangular stability against the forces generated by the sails.
Of note for a racer, the fore sail is the power on this boat. It is a mast head rig.
The baby stay and side shrouds may need reinforcement on the deck if you intend to race the boat hard. You may find a piece of pvc pipe could act as a roller, on the baby, to assist with your tacking. Using a long single jib sheet and tying your jib sheets to the clue with a cow hitch in the middle of the sheet will minimize the clue catching on the baby stay as you whip your boat and crew threw the tack.
good luck.
One shroud runs from the deck to near the mast head. The shroud is attached to the deck behind the mast base (no spreader mid mast). These are balanced with the fore and aft stays at the bow and the stern.
The second shroud terminates mid mast and is secured to the deck behind the mast base.
Despite the tacking aggravation the baby stay was installed to keep the mast in column as it provides triangular stability against the forces generated by the sails.
Of note for a racer, the fore sail is the power on this boat. It is a mast head rig.
| S.A. Fore: | 106.25 ft² / 9.87 m² |
| S.A. Main: | 99.00 ft² / 9.20 m² |
The baby stay and side shrouds may need reinforcement on the deck if you intend to race the boat hard. You may find a piece of pvc pipe could act as a roller, on the baby, to assist with your tacking. Using a long single jib sheet and tying your jib sheets to the clue with a cow hitch in the middle of the sheet will minimize the clue catching on the baby stay as you whip your boat and crew threw the tack.
good luck.
My understanding about the baby stay was that it's purpose was related to stepping and un-stepping the mast. The problem is I can not remember where I got this info or how true it is. We kept it attached, cause why not. I will say that the clew of the genoa would sometimes snag on it while tacking. We were not racing so all it involved was having by friend hold my drink while I went forward to free it.