Installing a backstay adjuster?

[Richard Gottlieb]

I am considering adding a backstay adjuster to my C36 Mk. II, which has a split backstay. However, I have a Schaefer 3100 roller furling unit on my 135% genoa. I've been told that a roller furling unit riquires a consistently tight backstay. Is this true? If so, is there any good reason to add a backstay adjuster? Would changing the backstay tension damage the roller furling unit or the genoa?Best regards.

 

[MArk]

Backstay

Richard,Unless you have a fractional rig, I'm not sure a backstay adjuster is going to do you any good. With a masthead forestay, you will only be pulling against the forestay and not bending the mast. (Assuming you want a backstay adjuster to control mainsail draft.)Some say the backstay adjuster can control the flatness of the headsail, but I don't believe it. I would move the cars on the foresail track to change the jib or genoa fullness. Besides, why would you ever want a loose forestay on a cruising boat anyway?Just me.Happy sails _/),MArk

 

[Robert Dean]

Back Stay adjusting

The race boats in our area with a mast head rigs all use either a mechnical or hydraulic back stay adjuster.If your C36 Mk2 has a mast head rig and you race you will need a back stay adjuster for one primary purpose - reduce head stay sag. Reducing head stay sag allows you to point better. Much better. If the forestay is tight the slot to the main has a better shape, the leading edge of the jib (the luff) presents a much better shape to the wind, etc. etc.If your C36 Mk2 is a fractional rig the back stay adjuster will cause a slight bend at the top of the mast and induce a flatten sail factor to your main sail. A flatten main will point better and will also depower the sail in heavy winds. However, with a fractional rig, a back stay adjuster will not take out enough head stay sag to make it matter. With a fractional rig, to reduce head stay sag you will need running back stays - but that is another subject. For an average run of the mill production sail boat with a mast head rig, the mast is almost a telephone pole in construction. A back stay adjuster is not going to bend the mast - regard less of how much pressure you apply. The crux of it all is that if you sail for race or cruise performanc - you will need and use a back stay adjuster.RD

 

[Don Guillette]

Installing A Backstay Adjuster

Richard: I have a backstay adjuster on my C30. The adjuster itself is a Garhauer soft vang. I use it but it is not real effective, as trying to bend the mast of of a C30 or a C36 is like trying to bend a telephone pole.While I was typing this I was thinking about tension on the front stay and how bending the mast effects the shape of the jib. To get around that problem I use a simple and the smallest soft vang that Garhauer makes. I attach one end to the tack of the sail and the other end to a pad eye on the deck. The devise becomes a jib cunningham and is very effective.I use the jib cunningham in place of messing with the jib halyard.

 

[Alan]

DIDO from Robert

except for the runners. A strut installed at the hounds is very effective at tensioning the headstay with the backstay adjuster and precludes the need for runners. As for the masthead rig, you always need to control headstay tension for all of the afore mentioned reasons.Don, the jib cunningham is a great idea but it won't add tension to the headstay which does affect sail shape.