I just bought a 1985 Hunter 23, I am new to sailing and am still learning terminology. So here goes, my double back stay simply has a one piece with two rollers on it that connects the two back stay lines. I know it is important to be able to control the back-stay tension but this simple connector is not set up to pull down increasing tension (high winds) or decrease tension (low winds). Can someone coach me on what to buy to rig my back-stay? Thanks!
Back-stay Rigging Question
- Thread starter preacherman
- Start date
IIRC, the H23 has a normal split backstay. That 'one piece with two rollers on it" needs to have a small 4:1 tackle on it to pull it down. Its attached to the transom near the middle; you should find a D-ring or similar there. That movement pulls the two split backstays together and tightens the stay. Like the pic below.
My H23 is different - the chainplates for the stays are further outwards on the transom, and it has no tensioning adjustment other than the turnbuckles attaching the stays to the chainplates. The upper end of the two lower wires connect to a pair of triangular stainless plates, with the wire to the mast crane attaching to the third corner of the triangle. The two plates "sandwich" the swaged eyes of the three wires, and are attached together with clevis pins.
Preacherman, does your '23 have a swing keel? My back stays are split further apart like your's. They too have a setup like you describe and as was stated before there is 4:1 tackle fixed to the tensioners to load or unload the backstay.
For what it's worth, adjusting the backstay is only really effective with a new(ish) mainsail. If it's old and has a little bit of a gut, save for new a new mainsail before you work on the backstay adjuster.
The 23 with swept back spreaders...while perhaps not suggested by Crazy Dave..doesn't necessarily need even need a backstay, I have sailed quite a few trailer-sailor weekends without it.
The 23 with swept back spreaders...while perhaps not suggested by Crazy Dave..doesn't necessarily need even need a backstay, I have sailed quite a few trailer-sailor weekends without it.
Use of all apparatus for tuning is the key even for an older main. Mainsheet,cunningham,outhaul,boomvang,and backstay adjuster all contribute. Many older sails have shrunken bolt rope, and some of that problem is not having all trim available and utilized to keep sail stretched out to full size.
Chief
Chief
Yes, I believe the mainsail is the original that came with the boat '85. A more experienced sailor in my association suggested I get a newer mainsail soon and even suggested a used main sail in better shape since I am on a limited budget this first year just purchasing the boat. Thanks
No, it is a wing keel. It looks like one of the previous owners had something set up to adjust the split back stay, it but took it off.