Back Stay adjuster

kappykaplan · Jan 10, 2016

If you don't have the hydraulic backstay adjuster, how do you propose to tension the backstay?

Bad Obsession · Jan 10, 2016

That really stinks. I hate it when things hit you outside of budget. The thing is that you want it right.

Bad Obsession · Jan 10, 2016

Yep...these things happen. Part of this is the reason I went from my Catalina 30 to my Compac 23. The Compac is definitely more budget friendly but now I am obsessed with constant modification to turn it into a suitable long term pocket cruiser. I miss the room of the bigger boat though since I do a lot of cruising and some longer trips when I can.

Maybe you can find a used one at a good price or maybe you can send it to the factory to be repaired. Check around. I once had an issue with my Profurl on my other boat and the company came out of no where and honored their warranty even though a previous owner had put the item on a long time ago. They sent me parts for the cost of shipping.

Displacesailor · Jan 11, 2016

I had a similar stress crack in an adjusted a several years back. We were beating to windward in 25 to 30 knot off the coast of Florida when we hit a wave and heard a very loud pop and the rig went slack. We had 5 men on deck and were able to save the mast but only because we were lucky and had a spare wire halyard to use temporarily as a back stay.
That stay failure and a head stay failure on a different boat I had were both caused by the shroud getting in a bind as the rig moved in heavy load conditions. So I check that all rigging can bend in all directions freely to prevent the problem from happening again.

Boat =Bring another Thousand

Jackdaw · Jan 11, 2016

25 year old 37 foot boat? If that's the biggest expense you have in a 12 month span consider your self very fortunate indeed. Owning a big boat takes a pretty big wallet. Not to many ways around that, no matter what the year or what you paid... in fact the older and the less you paid, the more a big boat will cost.

Welcome to the club.

Union36 · Jan 11, 2016

Casagf66 said:
So i've found a suspicious crack on the back stay adjuster on my 1989 Jeanneau Voyage and i'm a bit concerned. See attached picture for reference.

When I commission the boat in the spring i'm wondering if i should just eliminate it all together as i dont have it in my budget for a new one.

http://i.imgur.com/l9KbTZg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pHHoTvy.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/SYlzKry.jpg

I definitely would NOT continue using the one you have as it may fail while on the water and then you'd be hosed. See you if can find one on E-Bay for a decent price if not, then you'll have to revert to a fixed back stay, and depending on how you do it, there's the matter of price. For that matter, there is ALWAYS the matter of price. Good luck!

kloudie1 · Jan 11, 2016

Mechanical adjuster using winch handle, right? so it is essentially a screw jack..
It looks like the top (or is that the bottom?) of the large cone/cylinder might unscrew to get access to the innards for repair. Seals and moving parts will fail, so it should be able to be serviced(?).. I know it might be French made, but ya should be able to figure it out. A small mom/pop machine shop is more likely to want to work with ya.. and they may quote more than a new one would cost.. beware..
If you want to eliminate it, you can replace it with a turnbuckle and a stay "extender" to make up the difference in length. "Extender" would be a piece of SS wire same as backstay, of the proper length, with appropriate end fittings.. Fittings could be swedged onto the wire or removable, mechanical fittings like a Norseman or StayLoc.. In the end, the eliminator will be pretty expensive too.. Jackdaw hit the nail squarely..

EDIT: Looks like a NEMO 212.700 .. Ya may be able to call them or email them for parts..
http://www.nemoindustrie.com/imgdb/prodotti/tendistralli_web.pdf

EDIT 2: looks in your first picture that there is a bulge in the main body opposite the winch drive .. I would bet ya a cold Tin Roof beer that some water got in through the top seal, and froze

markwbird · Jan 11, 2016

I have found that ebay is a big help when it comes to keeping costs down. You gotta be creative. That is worth fixing if you can find the parts.

kloudie1 · Jan 11, 2016

As Mark says: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEMO-Stainless-Steel-Backstay-Tensioner-Assembly-/321349589912?rmvSB=true

Dave Pawloski · Jan 11, 2016

I have a 1985 Hunter 31. It came from the factory with a fixed split backstay. When I began racing the boat in 1989, I had the local rigger "tweak" the system to incorporate a (strong) turning block at the split, and then to rig a 3:1 block and tackle arrangement (2 blocks with the lower one incorporating a cam cleat and maybe 20' of 5/8 line) on one side. Works fine, no structural or performance issues, and could likely be done on your boat for $250 in materials.

kloudie1 · Jan 11, 2016

The "name" mechanical fittings are as strong as a compression swedge, both generally as strong as the wire itself or slightly stronger. in no particular order, Hy-Mod, Sta-Loc, Norseman, are good stuff.. there may be others but I don't have info on them.. I might not trust the ones they sell at Harbor Freight, but they might be OK too..?
http://www.stalok.com/c-76-sta-lok-swageless-terminals.aspx

Joe · Jan 11, 2016

Casagf66 said:
Do you'll think a Norseman and Stay loc fitting is strong enough for a back stay on a boat this size?

If so I wouldn't mind building a stay extender myself for the time being until I repair and or buy nee tensioner...

I can't imagine why it wouldn't be, since they are designed for that purpose. Wire and pin diameter and stud thread size will determine the correct fitting.

jssailem · Jan 14, 2016

It is a challenge when your new to you boat shares a delayed maintenance experience.

I looked up at my unpainted wood spreaders. When I decided I should take down my mast on my new to me boat I learned the wood was rotten. A bad stress could have brought the mast down uncontrolled. I then found my stays were different lengths, making it a challenge to get reliable tensions. So with the guidance of a qualified rigger I'm replacing all the 1974 rigging.

He is suggesting adding an adjustable backstay. Not because I have a racer boat but because you need to have a way to relieve the pressure on the base of the deck stepped mast when at rest, like in a marina. This helps to reduce the pressures on the deck.

There are several values for an adjustable backstay. Helps your boat to point higher. Gives the downwind sail a fuller shape. But you need to have a system that is easy to use and to properly set. Otherwise you will not do it.

Back Stay adjuster

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John