backstay

[tlochhaas]

I launched in downeast Maine yesterday for the season and discovered
only too late (as the crane driver was grumbling that he had to leave
for another job) that my backstay had somehow kinked during winter
storage or in the mast raising process. It was too late to do anything
at the time, so I tightened up rest of the rigging and left it a bit
loose. The kink was a sharp bend that did not completely straighten out
with tension, the wire strands seem slightly "unraveled" where the bend
was, so I'm doing the safe thing and replacing it since I assume it has
been weakened. I'm sure it's not the original backstay from 1971 (all
the standing rigging seems newer than that, must have been replaced by
some previous owner). I will climb the mast to measure it. But can
anyone tell me the necessary diameter of the wire needed? (The answer
may be in the Vega manual, but I'm away from that now and would like to
get a new stay ordered so that I can get sailing soon.) I don't
automatically want to use the same size as what's there now, since I
can't be sure it's correct--and the nearest rigger is far away. I'd
probably go up one size--no disadvantage in that, is there? Any other
related advice? Thanks.

 

[imbissfrank]

Tom,
I believe my standing rigging is original (1973) 316 Stainless, 5mm or 3/16 inch. Frank V 2184, Cin Cin

Tom Lochhaas toml@... wrote:

 

[maciacarter]

Don't climb the mast when the backstay is loose or damaged. Find a very long measuring tape, 50 to 75 feet, tie the end of the tape to a halyard, along with a stronger messenger line so you can haul your halyard down again, and measure from the safety of your deck. Get a look at whether you need a toggle at the top and factor that in. Like carpentry measure twice.

Regards,
Christine
Oreneta V2175