Help...want to move headstay

[Dave]

My foredeck plate has two pins in it to attach the headstay and other hardware. Unfortunately the headstay is attached to the forward of these pins. I want to use a cruising spinaker and it needs to be attached outboard of the roller furling headsail so I need to move the headstay to the aft pin. Is there some way to do this without the mast breaking in half and falling like a tree? Can I just attach a halyard and tighten it using the mast winch, loosen the backstay, loosen the headstay, move it and then tighten everything? Keep in mind this is a 35 foot boat with a keel stepped mast about 49 feet long. Any suggestions most appreciated. Note also I intend to store in the water next winter so I won't be unstepping the mast.Thanks,Dave

 

[mark v.]

no problemo!

if your just switching pin placements and theres no load its not a problem.you'll need to back the backstay turnbuckle way off and hook up the jib halyard to the tack fitting you currently have in place. put just enough tension on it to easily remove the forestay pin.back off the halyard, switch your locations and reassemble everything. make sure to have a towel available to wrap around your furling drum fittings so your nonskid does'nt get scuff'd up.if your pin locations are to great of distance i am concerned about your backsay turn buckle not being able to put enough tension back into thr rig or your mast having too much curveture towards the back..some is o.k. but too much.......just keep an eye on it as your doing your work

 

[Dave]

Mark v - thanks

Mark...my headstay furling unit has some adjustment to allow me to tension the headstay so I'm not limited to only the backstay for adjustment. I am concerned if the total adjustment in both will be enough as the new tack location will require a shorter headstay length. But you answered my question that the halyard should be ok to hold everything together while I move it.Thanks,Dave

 

[gary jensen]

moving forestay back

To get the forestay back, release pressure on the backstay. This will create slack in your forestay. You could bring your jib Halyard down and forward and fasten it to hold the mast forward)..Then move the furler to where you want, secure it and detach the furler. Then re-tune the rig..good luck.

 

[jcherubini]

Go for it.

Dave--On a properly tuned rig the shrouds alone should be good enough to hold it whilst you move either forestay or backstay. As with any job like this always release the opposing tension along with what you are loosening-- DO NOT simply back one off by itself first but do a little off each one alternately till you can get the pin out (if there's any friction in wiggling the pin in the clevis it is NOT loose enough to yank out safely). I would be surprised if you were even able to pull the pin at all if you had not slacked the backstay as well. Imagine the pull the full-tensioned backstay will have against NO forestay. (We used to tune rigs by ear-- too many guitar players in this family!)Of course the rig will need a FULL re-tune. Start by bring the fore and back stays back to 'normal'-- but they will NOT really be 'normal' till you check over the whole thing. Don't just ASSUME it's okay.The wire length should not be a problem on a 49-ft 'I' dimension if you're only moving it an inch at the tack. Any backstay adjuster system will easily take up the slack. I also predict the only performance difference you'll notice is being able to fly the new sail!Let us know how you make out with it.JC