We have a B49 with swept back spreaders, fractional tall rig. I've spoken to a rigging company about adding a hydraulic backstay adjuster. They advised that it would have little effect other than being able to bend the top part of the mast (above the forestay/shroud attachment point). I agree, but am wondering if anyone has any experience with a fractional rig and trying to adjust it under sail. The dealer installed the mast with about 8" of pre-bend. Funnily enough, Beneteau offer a backstay adjuster on their European model (Oceanis 50) which is essentially the identical boat as the US B49. Any thoughts?? Thx, Simon.
Adjustable Backstay B49
- Thread starter kawabonga
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Did the Euro model have?
Did the Euro model have a standard main or a roller furler like the ones in the US? Generally speaking adjustable mast bend is for standard mains/masts only. A lot of roller furler masts are set up with prebend to help compensate for the shallow draft associated with roller furler mainsails. Good luck with the 49, it's a very nice boat.
Did the Euro model have a standard main or a roller furler like the ones in the US? Generally speaking adjustable mast bend is for standard mains/masts only. A lot of roller furler masts are set up with prebend to help compensate for the shallow draft associated with roller furler mainsails. Good luck with the 49, it's a very nice boat.
I am not sure about furling main or not. These boats can be ordered with either standard or furling mains. I saw the backstay adjuster as an option on the beneteau.com website (European site) so I assume you can order the boat with or without it regardless of which type of main is ordered. We have a standard full battened main and tall mast/deep keel. Our last boat (C&C 37/40 R) had masthead rig with running backstays and backstay adjuster ...racer/cruiser... with spreaders not swept back. You could bend the mast like a pretzel if you wanted too! Just wondering if the adjustable backstay on a fractional rig w/ swept spreaders will bend the mast below the headstay attachment point at all? I guess my real concern is with headstay tension which is the driving force behind this question. Trying too eeke out whatever upwind performance I can. Simon.
Backstay adjustment
While I can't vouch for a 49 I did have a F310 that was a 7/8ths fractional rig with swept spreaders and had an adjustable backstay. Yes you could tweak things to get that last bit of upwind performance. I would expect you'll be able to do the same with the rig you ordered. Wish I had it on my current B361, it's a dog to weather.
While I can't vouch for a 49 I did have a F310 that was a 7/8ths fractional rig with swept spreaders and had an adjustable backstay. Yes you could tweak things to get that last bit of upwind performance. I would expect you'll be able to do the same with the rig you ordered. Wish I had it on my current B361, it's a dog to weather.
Backstay
There was a Oceanis 50 entry in last years Atlantic Arc who made adjustments and mods to his tall rig. The owner used a modified code zero mast head on a sprit. He ended up popping the top spreaders and I think the latest is a complete rig replacement. Have you asked Charleston Spar? I would be very interested in what they say as well. How do you like the tall rig? We ordered ours with that option too. Cheers, Jim jginnes@mac.com
There was a Oceanis 50 entry in last years Atlantic Arc who made adjustments and mods to his tall rig. The owner used a modified code zero mast head on a sprit. He ended up popping the top spreaders and I think the latest is a complete rig replacement. Have you asked Charleston Spar? I would be very interested in what they say as well. How do you like the tall rig? We ordered ours with that option too. Cheers, Jim jginnes@mac.com
Popped spreaders
Do you know where I can get more info on the ARC incident? As far as the tall rig goes, we like it, although I don't have anything to compare it with, other than our last boat (C&C 37/40R). The B49 doesn't point as high probably due to the difference in keel draught (the C&C was a foot deeper with almost same height mast). B49 is faster off the wind due to waterline and, I suspect, hull shape. In the couple of months we have sailed her we have had no problem hitting 8 - 9 knots in 15+ knots of breeze. I think fastest has been almost 11 knots in 20 knots of wind. Our 37R would never do that! The boat is very stable, and it takes a lot of wind to overpower her. We sailed in 20+ last fall and were really just beginning to think about reefing. One drawback are the stock sails which, although bulletproof, are hardly suited for light wind sailing. I found a used kevlar racing main with more roach that we are going to try and we are going to change the headsail to something lighter and maybe bigger. I think stock genoa is about 135-140%. Better sails will definately improve performance. We are sailing on Lake Ontario which is primarily light wind sailing. One problem we had was with the boom bails, one of which blew out one night. The dealer ordered new ones which were of a different design and more robust. As per this forum I am looking at adding a Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster. One interesting thing about the tall rig is that Beneteau do not change the forestay attachment point on the mast i.e. 'I' dimension does not change only 'P' dimension and the 'E' dimension is a little longer. I could never get a straight answer from them about this, probably a cost thing.
Do you know where I can get more info on the ARC incident? As far as the tall rig goes, we like it, although I don't have anything to compare it with, other than our last boat (C&C 37/40R). The B49 doesn't point as high probably due to the difference in keel draught (the C&C was a foot deeper with almost same height mast). B49 is faster off the wind due to waterline and, I suspect, hull shape. In the couple of months we have sailed her we have had no problem hitting 8 - 9 knots in 15+ knots of breeze. I think fastest has been almost 11 knots in 20 knots of wind. Our 37R would never do that! The boat is very stable, and it takes a lot of wind to overpower her. We sailed in 20+ last fall and were really just beginning to think about reefing. One drawback are the stock sails which, although bulletproof, are hardly suited for light wind sailing. I found a used kevlar racing main with more roach that we are going to try and we are going to change the headsail to something lighter and maybe bigger. I think stock genoa is about 135-140%. Better sails will definately improve performance. We are sailing on Lake Ontario which is primarily light wind sailing. One problem we had was with the boom bails, one of which blew out one night. The dealer ordered new ones which were of a different design and more robust. As per this forum I am looking at adding a Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster. One interesting thing about the tall rig is that Beneteau do not change the forestay attachment point on the mast i.e. 'I' dimension does not change only 'P' dimension and the 'E' dimension is a little longer. I could never get a straight answer from them about this, probably a cost thing.
Popped spreaders
Yes my understanding about the tall rig is that it makes it a true 7/8 rig. The main sq increases only. As far as the ARC boat, try http://www.treleaven.com.au/ The Neil Pryde loft in Seattle is making me a asymmetrical spinnaker... what sort of performance have you seen with the spinnaker? Nice to hear she's stable. Jim
Yes my understanding about the tall rig is that it makes it a true 7/8 rig. The main sq increases only. As far as the ARC boat, try http://www.treleaven.com.au/ The Neil Pryde loft in Seattle is making me a asymmetrical spinnaker... what sort of performance have you seen with the spinnaker? Nice to hear she's stable. Jim
B49 Spinnaker
We don't have a spinnaker yet. We're working on that as well. We did get the 'genneker gear' option from Beneteau which includes blocks, sheets, etc... We're looking at conventional and maybe an A-sail for use without a pole. Cheers, Simon.
We don't have a spinnaker yet. We're working on that as well. We did get the 'genneker gear' option from Beneteau which includes blocks, sheets, etc... We're looking at conventional and maybe an A-sail for use without a pole. Cheers, Simon.
Navtec
We are looking at the Navtec integral backstay adjuster p/# A370-LE-022. This has a 3/4" pin diameter which will fit the backstay attachment plate on the boat. I will do a bit more research on this though before moving ahead. I am still not exactly sure how this system will interact with the current rig. Another change I would like to see would be moving the traveller back from the cabin top to the bridge deck area. I'm not sure weather this is possible, but it would create an end-sheeted boom set-up. The main sheet blocks are not much more than half way along the boom at present making for high loads in that area. Simon.
We are looking at the Navtec integral backstay adjuster p/# A370-LE-022. This has a 3/4" pin diameter which will fit the backstay attachment plate on the boat. I will do a bit more research on this though before moving ahead. I am still not exactly sure how this system will interact with the current rig. Another change I would like to see would be moving the traveller back from the cabin top to the bridge deck area. I'm not sure weather this is possible, but it would create an end-sheeted boom set-up. The main sheet blocks are not much more than half way along the boom at present making for high loads in that area. Simon.
Backstay
Hi Simon, I sent an email to the Neil Pryde loft in Seattle looking for comment... He indicated that for a boat the size of the B49 a backstay adjuster is a very good idea. Be it "... a stand Either way, it would be a good way to go." "Either way, it would be a good way to go." I guess I'll talk to my broker... Cheers, Jim
Hi Simon, I sent an email to the Neil Pryde loft in Seattle looking for comment... He indicated that for a boat the size of the B49 a backstay adjuster is a very good idea. Be it "... a stand Either way, it would be a good way to go." "Either way, it would be a good way to go." I guess I'll talk to my broker... Cheers, Jim
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