Hey, ALL. My question of the day is how far from the mast step do you install the baby stays? How high up the mast do you mount baby stays? My understanding is as far away as possible and as high as possible, probably as high as lower shrouds...this way ther will be less stress on it..RIGHT??? But'what's the reasonable distance/height? How long are your baby stays? Thanks. Any input/pix are appreciated (alexderiy@yahoo.com) I'll be posting some pix of my project soon.
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The instructuction sheet I got from BWY says to connect the baby stays 67" from the bottom of the mast. I went 72" and connected them along with the bale that the winch hooks to. They should be 47" apart where they connect to the deck, "and such that the middle of the mounting plate is even with the back edge of the mast".
winch?
I would only have to guess that the winch that you are talking about is the one on a gin pole(or whatever it's called)? I was thinking of using a block and tackle(like a mainsheet) and thru a block in a bow run the same sheet to my primary winch and use that to crank it up. How thick are your baby stays? 1/8 ? Do you use a crutch pole to support a mast before raising it or do you lift it right off the stern railing? thanks, Al
I would only have to guess that the winch that you are talking about is the one on a gin pole(or whatever it's called)? I was thinking of using a block and tackle(like a mainsheet) and thru a block in a bow run the same sheet to my primary winch and use that to crank it up. How thick are your baby stays? 1/8 ? Do you use a crutch pole to support a mast before raising it or do you lift it right off the stern railing? thanks, Al
upper part of baby stays
As for how to mount a top part of stays on a mast...do you think, blind rivetted regular pad eyes would be strong enough? wOr would I have to put a bolt thru the whole mast to mount the tangs (like up top)? Any info is appreciated I was thinking, 3/16 stainless steel blind rivets and pad eyes...
As for how to mount a top part of stays on a mast...do you think, blind rivetted regular pad eyes would be strong enough? wOr would I have to put a bolt thru the whole mast to mount the tangs (like up top)? Any info is appreciated I was thinking, 3/16 stainless steel blind rivets and pad eyes...
Thru-bolt
I have my baby stays through-bolted to the mast. Rivets are ok for some applications but there may be a fair bit of lateral force with the mast trying to swing to the side while raising. I would not want to see the resultant damage/injuries if the rivets failed and the mast swung loose. By the way, I lift my mast off of the crutch with no effort. Also, I use a simple block and tackle shackled from the gin pole to the forestay. I suppose I could run the line to one of the winches but don't really see the need. If I need to stop anywhere in the process, I simply secure the line to one of my bow cleats. The only thing I would do differently is use a longer line for the block and tackle. I only have a foot or two free when the mast is down. It would be nice to have a bit more to grab onto at the start.
I have my baby stays through-bolted to the mast. Rivets are ok for some applications but there may be a fair bit of lateral force with the mast trying to swing to the side while raising. I would not want to see the resultant damage/injuries if the rivets failed and the mast swung loose. By the way, I lift my mast off of the crutch with no effort. Also, I use a simple block and tackle shackled from the gin pole to the forestay. I suppose I could run the line to one of the winches but don't really see the need. If I need to stop anywhere in the process, I simply secure the line to one of my bow cleats. The only thing I would do differently is use a longer line for the block and tackle. I only have a foot or two free when the mast is down. It would be nice to have a bit more to grab onto at the start.
More bs
I agree with J. Barrett that thru bolting is the way to go. The winch I refered to is the one on the gin pole. This makes it easy for me to crank up the mast and still have a free hand to guide the furler. The cables are 1/8.
I agree with J. Barrett that thru bolting is the way to go. The winch I refered to is the one on the gin pole. This makes it easy for me to crank up the mast and still have a free hand to guide the furler. The cables are 1/8.
how high can you reach?
In my opinion, the higher you attach the baby stays to the mast the better the side to side stability while transitioning. The question is; once raised can you still reach to disconnect them or do you plan to leave them up while sailing? I think about 6'-7' is about the best you can do.
In my opinion, the higher you attach the baby stays to the mast the better the side to side stability while transitioning. The question is; once raised can you still reach to disconnect them or do you plan to leave them up while sailing? I think about 6'-7' is about the best you can do.
gin pole
About a gin pole now... how long and how thick is yours? What is it made of? Do you mount it on a trailer. What's the minimum height for a gin pole? It seems like most of the load it carries is a compression load, not much bending...right? you think, a 2 inch PVC pipe would do? :O) or does it have to be stronger than that?
About a gin pole now... how long and how thick is yours? What is it made of? Do you mount it on a trailer. What's the minimum height for a gin pole? It seems like most of the load it carries is a compression load, not much bending...right? you think, a 2 inch PVC pipe would do? :O) or does it have to be stronger than that?
gin pole
Al, my gin pole is inch and a half aluminum tube, I guess about four feet in length. I bought the kit from MacGregor. It came with the pole, stays, hardware, and block + tackle. The pole attaches to the mast step. If I could change anything, I would go with a longer pole so that the block pulls in a straight shot to the forward chainplate. With mine being short it doesn't allow you to really pull down as hard as you could to make pinning the forestay easier. My kit is actually for a 26 but works well enough for me. Also, I leave my baby stays attached. In thinking about it, a snap shackle on the upper end would allow for them to be removed easy enough..... for now they stay on. Do you have a hinged mast step? I found that changing to one helped alot with the overall stability of the raising. I didn't have the kit before the new step so I can't say how well it would work without it. -John
Al, my gin pole is inch and a half aluminum tube, I guess about four feet in length. I bought the kit from MacGregor. It came with the pole, stays, hardware, and block + tackle. The pole attaches to the mast step. If I could change anything, I would go with a longer pole so that the block pulls in a straight shot to the forward chainplate. With mine being short it doesn't allow you to really pull down as hard as you could to make pinning the forestay easier. My kit is actually for a 26 but works well enough for me. Also, I leave my baby stays attached. In thinking about it, a snap shackle on the upper end would allow for them to be removed easy enough..... for now they stay on. Do you have a hinged mast step? I found that changing to one helped alot with the overall stability of the raising. I didn't have the kit before the new step so I can't say how well it would work without it. -John
baby stay mount
in mounting baby stay to boat, think of a hinge with the mast at the center of the pin and the stay mounts at the ends of the pin so that that relationshil remains during raising/lowering the mast....which is to say that you might have to mount the stays on elevated blocks to keep piv points in line with mast base pin.
in mounting baby stay to boat, think of a hinge with the mast at the center of the pin and the stay mounts at the ends of the pin so that that relationshil remains during raising/lowering the mast....which is to say that you might have to mount the stays on elevated blocks to keep piv points in line with mast base pin.
Pix?
Bruce, I've often thought that your suggestion of mounting the BSs at the same deck elevation as the mast step was the only way of keeping the lines tight all the war through the evolution, but I haven't heard anybody else bring that point up. Do you (or anybody else out there) have pictures of such an installation?
Bruce, I've often thought that your suggestion of mounting the BSs at the same deck elevation as the mast step was the only way of keeping the lines tight all the war through the evolution, but I haven't heard anybody else bring that point up. Do you (or anybody else out there) have pictures of such an installation?
Toe buster
Something else to trip over. A little slack in the bs's is not a bad thing. Think of them as training wheels on a kid's bike. They don't have to make contact, but are there if you need them.
Something else to trip over. A little slack in the bs's is not a bad thing. Think of them as training wheels on a kid's bike. They don't have to make contact, but are there if you need them.
more ? on baby stays
I have mounted the lower atttachment points for the baby stays on the deck. (By the way, thanks for the "HINGE TIP"...Since i will be leaving the BSs on while sailing, I was thinking of attaching them to the mast by using the same tangs as the lower shrouds... Do you think, it's a bad idea??? I really don't want to drill another hole in a mast... What do you think?...to drill or not to drill :O)
I have mounted the lower atttachment points for the baby stays on the deck. (By the way, thanks for the "HINGE TIP"...Since i will be leaving the BSs on while sailing, I was thinking of attaching them to the mast by using the same tangs as the lower shrouds... Do you think, it's a bad idea??? I really don't want to drill another hole in a mast... What do you think?...to drill or not to drill :O)
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