Backstay for 1987 Catalina 22

[coldaddy]

Hello,

I've not been on the forum in awhile and I'm quite new to sailing (a hobby taken up late in life). I purchased a C22 about 4 years ago and have yet to put it in the water, though I'm hoping to change that soon. Current project is replacing all the standing rigging, which leads to my question. I purchased a backstay (single config) but after receiving and comparing to the original, I notice it's quite different. What I ordered can be seen here: Backstay SingleC-22 86<->94. What was on the boat when I bought it is pictured below:

Could anyone advise me which backstay this is as the specific option is not obvious to me on CatalinaDirect.

Thank you in advance,
Steve

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Call them. They will know or at least be able to offer advice

 

[AaronD]

Does your boat have stay anchors (eye bolts) on both sides of the transom? Some were originally shipped with a single anchor (on one side of the transom, so off-center). Some boats have anchors on both sides, allowing an adjustable backstay (there are at least a couple designs of adjustment systems). Your stay looks to me like the setup with a Y (at the wire block) leading to both transom anchors; but you'll want to confirm that on your boat.

To clarify - this system has a single wire stay from the masthead to ~6' over the deck, with a block at the end. And a second wire or line from the transom, through the block, and back to the other transom anchor, forming an inverted Y.

If you have the 2-anchor system (or if you decide to install a second anchor) you may want an adjustable stay setup CD's full system with all blocks is $500+, or you can do it in Amsteel for about half that. I spent $190, but that was a few years ago.

If you have a single transom anchor, you can use one of the single backstay options from CD.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

AaronD has it spot on. You bought the single backstay it sure looks like your existing backstay was anchored on both sides of the traveler. You are missing the tension hardware which forms a triangle which then pulls on both the port and starboard wires which go to the transom. The rigging kit you need is:

Cookies Required!

Catalina Direct, publishers of the Catalina 22 and Catalina 25 Owner's Handbooks and the largest supplier of parts and Lewmar winches for Catalina Yachts in the country

www.catalinadirect.com

And, you can learn more about the adjustable backstay install on the CD Video upgrades Volume 1 CD. If you haven't already gotten these videos, they're a great project starting point. The current newer adjustable backstay kit is far cleaner than the original kit on my 1988 C-22.

George

 

[Joe]

Your backstay is a single wire set up for an adjustable mechanism. The short wire clamped to the long backstay (not the one running through the small block)is not part of the standing rigging, it is called a pigtail..it is only used to support the boom when the sail is down...Never hook it up when saiing..If you want to support your boom while sailing, or under power, use the topping lift, and control side to side movement with the mainsheet/traveler.
Essentially, the long wire is the backstay (duh) the shorter wire running through the small block is the control line. It's fixed to one side of the transom has an adjusting mechanism to connect it the other side. The type of adjuster can vary. In the illustration, they show a block and tackle system. But you can use other devices, a turnbuckle for instance, or a lever action device called a "shroud/stay adjuster. Most trailerable boats will have a quick release attachment for the backstay to make it easier for trailering.

Anyway, here's Catalina Direct's kit... so look around your boat for the other parts. Might get lucky.

 

[coldaddy]

Call them. They will know or at least be able to offer advice

Thank you Project_Mayhem. Helpful suggestion and likely will do.

 

[coldaddy]

Does your boat have stay anchors (eye bolts) on both sides of the transom? Some were originally shipped with a single anchor (on one side of the transom, so off-center). Some boats have anchors on both sides, allowing an adjustable backstay (there are at least a couple designs of adjustment systems). Your stay looks to me like the setup with a Y (at the wire block) leading to both transom anchors; but you'll want to confirm that on your boat.

To clarify - this system has a single wire stay from the masthead to ~6' over the deck, with a block at the end. And a second wire or line from the transom, through the block, and back to the other transom anchor, forming an inverted Y.

If you have the 2-anchor system (or if you decide to install a second anchor) you may want an adjustable stay setup CD's full system with all blocks is $500+, or you can do it in Amsteel for about half that. I spent $190, but that was a few years ago.

If you have a single transom anchor, you can use one of the single backstay options from CD.

Yes there are eye bolts on both sides of the transom. Thank you, AaronD, for taking the time to point out this distinction in the two versions. In all the things that came with the boat I saw a block system that looked like a smaller main sheet arrangement so likely that was for an adjustable back stay with the two anchor points. I'll look into CD's full system and the option to do it in Amsteel.

Again, thank you for your help!

 

[coldaddy]

AaronD has it spot on. You bought the single backstay it sure looks like your existing backstay was anchored on both sides of the traveler. You are missing the tension hardware which forms a triangle which then pulls on both the port and starboard wires which go to the transom. The rigging kit you need is:

Cookies Required!

Catalina Direct, publishers of the Catalina 22 and Catalina 25 Owner's Handbooks and the largest supplier of parts and Lewmar winches for Catalina Yachts in the country

www.catalinadirect.com

And, you can learn more about the adjustable backstay install on the CD Video upgrades Volume 1 CD. If you haven't already gotten these videos, they're a great project starting point. The current newer adjustable backstay kit is far cleaner than the original kit on my 1988 C-22.

George

Super helpful, 3TacksontheWater, especially pointing out the video that teaches about this configuration. Will certainly check that out. Thank you!

 

[coldaddy]

Your backstay is a single wire set up for an adjustable mechanism. The short wire clamped to the long backstay (not the one running through the small block)is not part of the standing rigging, it is called a pigtail..it is only used to support the boom when the sail is down...Never hook it up when saiing..If you want to support your boom while sailing, or under power, use the topping lift, and control side to side movement with the mainsheet/traveler.
Essentially, the long wire is the backstay (duh) the shorter wire running through the small block is the control line. It's fixed to one side of the transom has an adjusting mechanism to connect it the other side. The type of adjuster can vary. In the illustration, they show a block and tackle system. But you can use other devices, a turnbuckle for instance, or a lever action device called a "shroud/stay adjuster. Most trailerable boats will have a quick release attachment for the backstay to make it easier for trailering.

Anyway, here's Catalina Direct's kit... so look around your boat for the other parts. Might get lucky.

Thank you, Joe. Really appreciate the thorough description as I'm very new to all of this. And I probably would have sailed with the boom support so glad you pointed it out!