Has anyone installed an inner foerstay on any of the Legend series Hunters? I'd be interested in hearing anyone's thoughts. Thanks, Dan Serendipity Too
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Inner forestay = a "MUST" for offshore work
Adding an inner forestay was the best thing we ever did for Rivendel II (together with adding a windvane). Of course, it is a bit of a pain if you want to tack up a channel (genoa needs to be rolled up before it passes through the foretriangle). A removable forestay helps but then you can't put a roller furler on that. Also,by the time you have added a staysail, tracks, running backstays (to countersupport the mast) and a set of winches your wallet is a heck of a lot thinner..... For offshore passaging, however, having a sturdy staysail means you'll be able to keep making progress in winds up to 40 knots or so and heave to on the staysail, if necessary. Also, you'll be able to go dead downwind (plus or minus 15 degrees) in the trades with staysail and genoa poled out wing on wing (a great boon with the fractional B&R rig and its poor downwind use of the main). Thirdly, you'll have a back-up stay for the forestay (without it, if the forestay ever breaks, your mast will be wrapped around the helmsman's neck in three seconds flat because of the backswept spreaders). Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (Legend 43, hull #1)
Adding an inner forestay was the best thing we ever did for Rivendel II (together with adding a windvane). Of course, it is a bit of a pain if you want to tack up a channel (genoa needs to be rolled up before it passes through the foretriangle). A removable forestay helps but then you can't put a roller furler on that. Also,by the time you have added a staysail, tracks, running backstays (to countersupport the mast) and a set of winches your wallet is a heck of a lot thinner..... For offshore passaging, however, having a sturdy staysail means you'll be able to keep making progress in winds up to 40 knots or so and heave to on the staysail, if necessary. Also, you'll be able to go dead downwind (plus or minus 15 degrees) in the trades with staysail and genoa poled out wing on wing (a great boon with the fractional B&R rig and its poor downwind use of the main). Thirdly, you'll have a back-up stay for the forestay (without it, if the forestay ever breaks, your mast will be wrapped around the helmsman's neck in three seconds flat because of the backswept spreaders). Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (Legend 43, hull #1)
Thanks Henk
The use of the storm trysail and extra wire holding up the mast were my main concerns but I like the idea of downwind work, I hadn't thought of that! Thanks for the input. By the way is there any project on the boat that doesn't thin out the wallet considerably? Thanks, Dan
The use of the storm trysail and extra wire holding up the mast were my main concerns but I like the idea of downwind work, I hadn't thought of that! Thanks for the input. By the way is there any project on the boat that doesn't thin out the wallet considerably? Thanks, Dan
The 40.5 came from the factory with a pocket behind the anchor locker on the foreward bulkhead that is backed by a metal plate intended to be drilled, tapped, and fitted with a plate to dead-end an inner forestay. Likewise, the mast has a cutout for attachment of same. I purchased all of the removable parts thru Hunter. I intend to have my installation completed this Spring for a trip up the coast of Washington next Summer. I feel that the most important aspect of a staysail rig is it's ability to allow you to double reef the main and fly a storm stays'l which brings the center of effort to the center of the boat and down low. If you just roll up the jib, the smaller sail area goes way up the forestay causing the boat to heel more. The previous response is valid too: An extra wire to hold up the mast sounds good. I'd bet that you wouldn't have too much trouble adding an inner forstay to the 37.5. The forward bulkhead isn't too different from the 40.5's. When I saw John Neal and Amanda Swan's big Hallberg Rassey in Seattle a couple of years ago, they had installed a 2 ft. long piece of stainless tubing cut in two long-ways and curved like a small bicycle wheel at the base of the mast. When the inner forstay was not needed, they could take it down the mast and around the "wheel" and back up the mast a little way to an attachment point. That gets it out of the way and yet keeps it at the ready. Hope this helps, Ron S/V Best Revenge
Someone asked this question for the 355 and 375 last year. Jim Blohart said that the boats weren't designed for this and the advice of a naval architect would be needed if anyone wanted to make this change on these two boats.
Probably a lot of work
The issue is really how do you transfer the tensional load of the inner forestay through the deck to the hull. The 40.5 apparently did this with a bulkhead that was probably in an area that was tabbed from the liner to the hull to transfer the stresses without causing the deck to bend up in the middle. I would be really careful about doing this without having a well engineered design.($$) Even if you tied the deck to the hull with a rod system similar to how the chain plates are tied from the deck to the hull you'll prbably end up doing some major surgery on the interior. Have you looked at the Gale Sail? It's designed to be set around the furled jib. I don't think the balance would be as good as a staysail but the bulk of the sail is down closer to the deck. Jim "Prospect" '93 L37.5
The issue is really how do you transfer the tensional load of the inner forestay through the deck to the hull. The 40.5 apparently did this with a bulkhead that was probably in an area that was tabbed from the liner to the hull to transfer the stresses without causing the deck to bend up in the middle. I would be really careful about doing this without having a well engineered design.($$) Even if you tied the deck to the hull with a rod system similar to how the chain plates are tied from the deck to the hull you'll prbably end up doing some major surgery on the interior. Have you looked at the Gale Sail? It's designed to be set around the furled jib. I don't think the balance would be as good as a staysail but the bulk of the sail is down closer to the deck. Jim "Prospect" '93 L37.5
I have installed an inner forestay on my passage 42. It's removeable by way of a quick release lever. It also now has a furling unit on it as well, put together thanks to Mike Haber at Hood/ Pompinette in Florida. It's a new Sea Furl. The small staysail is a comfort, and is easy to stow out of the way for most of the days we sail in Long Island Sounds relatively light air. I'm still perfecting it's installation, and am thinking of putting a track on the mast to hoist the unit, rather than tacking it back to the shrouds. This would mean a new exit for the halyrd etc, and so far it's fine the way it is. Besides my wife would notice, and ask me how much it cost!
Pictures Perhaps
I'd be very interested in seeing some pictures showing how the 37.5 inner forestay is mounted. My email: sailor@voicenet.com Thanks, Steve s/v Sun Runner
I'd be very interested in seeing some pictures showing how the 37.5 inner forestay is mounted. My email: sailor@voicenet.com Thanks, Steve s/v Sun Runner
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