I'm not sure what my adjustable backstay does for me. Currently I sail in Galveston Bay but plan to move out into the Gulf of Mexico soon. My backstay comes loose and I just re-secure it. I have considered removing it and having it permately fixed. I have tried differnt degrees of tightness but I have not seen any improvement in speed or performace. What am I missing?
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Shane
Backstay
The adjustable backstay is for changing the shape of the mainsail. If it keeps coming loose then you need to have it checked out by a rigger. the only time it should get a LITTLE loose is when you are on a close reach or close hauled. It should tighten back up when you are running.
The adjustable backstay is for changing the shape of the mainsail. If it keeps coming loose then you need to have it checked out by a rigger. the only time it should get a LITTLE loose is when you are on a close reach or close hauled. It should tighten back up when you are running.
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Don Guillette
James; Lets talk about what function the back stay tensioner performs. It's used to bend the mast and the reason you want to bend the mast is to take out the built in fullness of the mainsail. This is hard to understand as you would think that bending the mast would make the mainsail fuller but just the opposite happens. To see what is going on just bend your index finger. See how the knuckle goes forward. That action pulls the fullness out of the middle and upper portions of the mainsail. Mast bend is a sail trim control used to adjust draft position and draft depth. In chop or while sailing downwind, the mast should be straight because you want a full or more powerful sail while sailing in those conditions and on that point of sail. Now that we know what mast bend is how do we accomplish it. Unless you have a full fledged race boat , you can't. Trying to bend the mast on my C30 is like trying to bend a telephone pole!I can rake it back a bit but that is it. Also, when you bend the mast you are creating some problems with your jib but that is another story.
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John Visser
How about a C-36?
Don, I have a 1984 C-36 witha brand new stick (from Catalina), tall rig. I can atest tot hte fat that teh mast is "bendy," as while working on it I could lift one end and put quite a bend in it with it resting on the saw horses. I just recently put a bit of pre-bend in it with the lowers. I purchased a used Harken backstay tensioner (its a single 5/16" backstay) and plan on installing it this winter (it WAS on the list for htis year, but I haven't gotten to it yet). So the question: isn't this the same extrusion as for the C-30? Why do you say its not the kind of mast that is bendable? Thanks, jv
Don, I have a 1984 C-36 witha brand new stick (from Catalina), tall rig. I can atest tot hte fat that teh mast is "bendy," as while working on it I could lift one end and put quite a bend in it with it resting on the saw horses. I just recently put a bit of pre-bend in it with the lowers. I purchased a used Harken backstay tensioner (its a single 5/16" backstay) and plan on installing it this winter (it WAS on the list for htis year, but I haven't gotten to it yet). So the question: isn't this the same extrusion as for the C-30? Why do you say its not the kind of mast that is bendable? Thanks, jv
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Don Guillette
Backstay Adjuster
I can say the C30 mast is not bendable because I've never seen one bent in the manner I described, where it looked like a J boat mast for example and I've been sailing and racing them for 10 years.
I can say the C30 mast is not bendable because I've never seen one bent in the manner I described, where it looked like a J boat mast for example and I've been sailing and racing them for 10 years.
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George B.
Backstay Tension
Catalina's masthead rig won't allow a bend in the mast without first loosening up the headstay. Fractional rigged boats with their headstays lower down on the mast, will bend (headstay acts as a fulcrum). Therefore, this control can't be used (in any great degree) to change mainsail shape for us. So what good is it on our boats? The backstay tensioner is used to control headstay sag and enables you to point higher when windspeed picks up. From the helm, you will begin to see the headstay bow or sag in winds of 12-15kts. The sag that you see is actually leeward to the boat's centerline. This is impacting the flow entry and across the sail. Tensioning the backstay will also tighten the headstay and bring it back to centerline. The effects will be an improved steering grove, ability to point higher and better lift giving you more power. When properly tensioned, your boat should have a noticeable "stiffer" feel to it. Off the wind, tension works against you and should be loosened beginning somewhere around a beam or broad reach.
Catalina's masthead rig won't allow a bend in the mast without first loosening up the headstay. Fractional rigged boats with their headstays lower down on the mast, will bend (headstay acts as a fulcrum). Therefore, this control can't be used (in any great degree) to change mainsail shape for us. So what good is it on our boats? The backstay tensioner is used to control headstay sag and enables you to point higher when windspeed picks up. From the helm, you will begin to see the headstay bow or sag in winds of 12-15kts. The sag that you see is actually leeward to the boat's centerline. This is impacting the flow entry and across the sail. Tensioning the backstay will also tighten the headstay and bring it back to centerline. The effects will be an improved steering grove, ability to point higher and better lift giving you more power. When properly tensioned, your boat should have a noticeable "stiffer" feel to it. Off the wind, tension works against you and should be loosened beginning somewhere around a beam or broad reach.
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James B. Swain
Don, Thanks for the info. What it tells me and please all of y'all correct me if I'm wrong, but why can't I have a rigger remove the adjustment rigging since I'm just a weekend sailor and not a racer?
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Don Guillette
James: You could have it removed if you want. In seminars I conduct I hear a lot of mates say that they are just cruisers and not racers, whhich implies there is a racing way and a cruising way to sail a boat. There isn't. There is only a right way and a wrong way. As a cruiser, there are times when all your sail trim controls could come in handy such as when you are trying to claw your way off a lee shore or when the wind pipes up very fast. Another example is when it dies to next to nothing and your in a problem area. My feeling is that while you can easily just raise the main and roll out the jib and call it sailing , which it is as the boat will sail, it would be nice if you knew HOW and WHY all the sail controls functioned. Some day you may need them plus it is a lot of fun to get as much out of your little beauty that she can give. Sail trim is not nuclear research although I thought it was when I was trying to learn it. It is like egg salid. Once you know the ingredients and how to serve it, you've got it all.Same with sail trim when it is presented in an easy to understand manner.In other words, the principles don;t go on forever.
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James B. Swain
Don You're right, so I bought the tables to try an learn more about sail trim. I had a book once but it was the hardest thing to read. I could not apply what I had read so I just blew it off. Thanks James
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Don Guillette
Jim: I think I can help you on the book. I know how you feel about some of these books but go to the ships store at our host, Sailboatowners.com and check out my book "The Sail Trim Users Guide". It is written in plain, simple English - that's so I can understand it. I am so sure that you'll understand the contents that it is sold with a money back guarantee - if your not completely satisfied in every way, we'll return your money and you can keep the book.
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Don Guillette
Catalina 30 Curve Track Traveler
Mates: As most of you who know me know, I hated my Catalina30 curve track traveler. It may look classic as it follows the contour of the cabin top but it is a poor design. The traveler car is also pathetic when compared to what is available today. With the C30 curved track, when I had everything tightened down it was impassable to move the traveler because you were pulling down hill and there was no give. The way I got around it was to release the mainsheet, set the traveler and then reset the mainsheet. That was a big hassle. This is a big problem to Catalina curved track owners but I think I have a better way but unfortunately I can't test it because I have converted my system to the Garhauer straight track traveler and Garhauer Rigid Vang so I have no way to verify my idea. I think an easier way to adjust the curved track is to merely tighten up on the boom vang, which relieves pressure on the mainsheet thus allowing you to easily move the traveler instead of messing with the mainsheet. As Yogi Berra would say it is quicker and also faster than adjusting the mainsheet. When you adjust the boom vang and the mainsheet you are primarily dealing with the element of twist. It is easier to set or reset twist with the boom vang than the mainsheet . So, any of you Catalina owners out there with the curved track system that could test my idea, your input would be appreciated. It would work much better with a rigid vang but a soft vang would also work, I think.
Mates: As most of you who know me know, I hated my Catalina30 curve track traveler. It may look classic as it follows the contour of the cabin top but it is a poor design. The traveler car is also pathetic when compared to what is available today. With the C30 curved track, when I had everything tightened down it was impassable to move the traveler because you were pulling down hill and there was no give. The way I got around it was to release the mainsheet, set the traveler and then reset the mainsheet. That was a big hassle. This is a big problem to Catalina curved track owners but I think I have a better way but unfortunately I can't test it because I have converted my system to the Garhauer straight track traveler and Garhauer Rigid Vang so I have no way to verify my idea. I think an easier way to adjust the curved track is to merely tighten up on the boom vang, which relieves pressure on the mainsheet thus allowing you to easily move the traveler instead of messing with the mainsheet. As Yogi Berra would say it is quicker and also faster than adjusting the mainsheet. When you adjust the boom vang and the mainsheet you are primarily dealing with the element of twist. It is easier to set or reset twist with the boom vang than the mainsheet . So, any of you Catalina owners out there with the curved track system that could test my idea, your input would be appreciated. It would work much better with a rigid vang but a soft vang would also work, I think.
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Roger Peniston-Bird
Mast bend
I understand that mast bend (as opposed to mast rake) is designed to flatten or depower the mainsail. However, I have never seen it used by any skipper I have sailed with, given that there are other ways of achieving this whose effects, I suspect, are more instantly evident.
I understand that mast bend (as opposed to mast rake) is designed to flatten or depower the mainsail. However, I have never seen it used by any skipper I have sailed with, given that there are other ways of achieving this whose effects, I suspect, are more instantly evident.
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