H26 back stay??

[Last Chance60]

I have heard from people teaching me to sail the desasters from the main coming about and striking the shrouds and thereby toppling the mast. None of these people have been around the H26 and all suggest I put a backstay on the mast.

What is your opinions. I figure the engineers knew what they were doing.

 

[Ed Schenck]

The Highlander in my Avatar(picture left) is a 1968. It has never had a backstay. The main is larger than yours. The mast has never been in danger of collapsing. I do wish that I could furl the main sometimes. But that is because I worry about staying dry, not because I am going to lose the mast.

 

[John23883]

Backstay

The Hunter 26 does not need a backstay. On a boat with the shrouds in a line with the mast, a backstay is needed to hold the mast up and in more competitive boats to adjust the curve of the mast by tightening or loosening the backstay. Our Hunters have what is referred to as a “B & R rig” and as such does not need a backstay as the shrouds are to the rear of the mast and they and the forestay form a triangle that supports the mast. Since it is a cruising boat, the proper rearward rake is set by adjusting the upper shroud tension and forestay length and then the inner shrouds adjust the mast bend and it is not adjusted during sailing. Please see George’s site for info on all things Hunter 26/260 including the “B & R” rig. http://kobernus.com/hunter260/

Now a question. Are your friends saying that they do not control the swing of the boom during a jibe so that the boom is allowed to swing so far that it could swing all the way over to a shroud and with enough force to snap it?
John

 

[Last Chance60]

Re: Backstay

Thanks for the input. Yes, but merely warning me as I learn that if I were to allow the boon to swing out of control it MAY hit the shroud and cause the mast to fall. They have also instructed me how to avoid these situations but brought up the question.

 

[Ed Schenck]

It would be good to know if anyone has ever experienced such a loss. That the boom actually knocked the mast down by striking the shrouds with force. I would bet that the boom would snap before it could cut through a shroud.

 

[isaksp00]

Either way, it's a good idea to know to watch for and avoid uncontrolled jibes. Even if it couldn't snap the shroud, it could cause damage, and obviously injury. You could ask someone to show you how to rig a preventer, which is a line of some sort that keeps the boom from swinging over.

 

[Last Chance60]

Prior to any jibe or run I was instructed to keep the mainsheet tight to limit the travel.

I feel much better about the rig after everyone's comments. This week I have a rigger coming to go over the boat and show me how to properly tighten the shrouds and forestay.