I would like to start sailing my Hunter 310 offshore and the boat yard has strongly suggested that I install a backstay on the mast to help reduce the movement in it. Any thoughts on the need for the backstay on the 310 would be appreciated, along with any recommended ways of connecting it to the hull
Backstay for a 310
- Thread starter josh6526
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Swept back spreaders right?
While I would never take a Hunter into a hurricane, I do believe they are built a little better than what you are being lead to believe. If your spreaders are "swept back" you have a rig that does not really need a back stay. Thats why you don't have one from the factory. Lots of folks that grew up with boats with backstays will tell you "......man that can't work because.....". I suspect the engineers at Hunter are a little better than that. Keep a weather eye on the chain plates and their backing plates and don't try to make her do monkey back flips and you should be OK. Key here is the ability to read the weather or a weather fax. If I where you I'd spend my money on a weather fax and a class on reading them instead of a backstay. The boat will not be any safer with a backstay if YOU can't read the weather. If you can read the weather then you can have a more comfortable passage.
While I would never take a Hunter into a hurricane, I do believe they are built a little better than what you are being lead to believe. If your spreaders are "swept back" you have a rig that does not really need a back stay. Thats why you don't have one from the factory. Lots of folks that grew up with boats with backstays will tell you "......man that can't work because.....". I suspect the engineers at Hunter are a little better than that. Keep a weather eye on the chain plates and their backing plates and don't try to make her do monkey back flips and you should be OK. Key here is the ability to read the weather or a weather fax. If I where you I'd spend my money on a weather fax and a class on reading them instead of a backstay. The boat will not be any safer with a backstay if YOU can't read the weather. If you can read the weather then you can have a more comfortable passage.
"reduce the movement in it"
If your rig is tuned properly then you should not be getting 'movement'. Loose leeward shrouds, pumping mast head, headstay sag are all indications that your rig is not tuned correctly. A properly tuned rig should hold the mast firmly in place with minimal mast movement. Have you run the numbers yourself and verified that they are correct?
If your rig is tuned properly then you should not be getting 'movement'. Loose leeward shrouds, pumping mast head, headstay sag are all indications that your rig is not tuned correctly. A properly tuned rig should hold the mast firmly in place with minimal mast movement. Have you run the numbers yourself and verified that they are correct?
B&R Rig
I think that your boat yard may not be familiar with the B&R rig that Hunter uses. Refer to the link below that explains the physics and purpose of the B&R rig. What kind of movement are you experiencing? Tuning a B&R rig vs. a traditional rig is much different. I would look for someone experienced with this type of rig or learn the proper procedure and do it myself. Adding a backstay may create unwanted situations. Would the top of the mast bend requiring the sail to be recut? Would the roach sail rub on the backstay? The walkthrough transom would require a split backstay and what happens to the bimini? I hope this helps.
I think that your boat yard may not be familiar with the B&R rig that Hunter uses. Refer to the link below that explains the physics and purpose of the B&R rig. What kind of movement are you experiencing? Tuning a B&R rig vs. a traditional rig is much different. I would look for someone experienced with this type of rig or learn the proper procedure and do it myself. Adding a backstay may create unwanted situations. Would the top of the mast bend requiring the sail to be recut? Would the roach sail rub on the backstay? The walkthrough transom would require a split backstay and what happens to the bimini? I hope this helps.
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