I have an 84 Hunter 34 that I am wanting to race. Having an adjustable backstay is standard for racing but here's the problem: with (very) swept back spreaders it occurs to me that tightening the backstay will loosen the side stays and vice versa as they anchor to the deck about 2 1/2 ft back from the mast. So, has anyone else dealt with this? Is it a problem? If so is there a solution?
Adjustable backstay with swept back spreaders
- Thread starter markwbird
- Start date
Mark,
Not much to offer, but I had heard the same things you have mentioned with tensioning the backstay. The extra compression of the mast would increase the prebend causing the forestay to tighten (the desired effect). The shrouds would tend to slacken as well but I don't know what would then happen. Basically I heard that with the B&R rig, a backstay adjuster wasn't recommended.
With that being said, the original Hunter 34 brochure (attached) shows the boat with a split backstay adjuster installed in a couple of the pictures. So, I guess you could try it and see what happens.
Allan
Not much to offer, but I had heard the same things you have mentioned with tensioning the backstay. The extra compression of the mast would increase the prebend causing the forestay to tighten (the desired effect). The shrouds would tend to slacken as well but I don't know what would then happen. Basically I heard that with the B&R rig, a backstay adjuster wasn't recommended.
With that being said, the original Hunter 34 brochure (attached) shows the boat with a split backstay adjuster installed in a couple of the pictures. So, I guess you could try it and see what happens.
Allan
I have a Hunter 30 with a split back stay and adjuster. Tensioning the back stay only slightly increased my fore stay tension. Additional tension mostly increased the bend of the mast, and it doesn't take a lot of tension to get a pretty good bend. I quit using it because it had such a small range of adjustment. When I did use it, I never noticed the effect on side stay tension.
I have had the same discussion with a specialists and the conclusion is just what you write. Tensioning the backstay will make the B&R rig to collaps because you by the same time loosen the side stays and make the mast instable. The only way to get a good tension of the forestay is to tighten the upper side stay a lot. A backstay can be useful to decrease the pumping of the mast when sailing in high waves. Those backstays should placed approximately 3/4 up on the mast, under the top spreader.