I can now get my mast up fairly easily using my A frame. I find though that the jib stay while needing two people to set in place isn't to hard to do, leaves the back stay kinda loose. The back stay does not have a turnbuckle but rather a pin arrangement. You select a hole to insert the pin in a strip to set the length of the back stay. Should I increase tension on the jib stay or maybe put a turnbuckle on the back stay to increase tension on the back stay ? I imagine you must have to back off the tensions in either case to remove the jib stay in order to raise or lower the mast.
jib stay and back stay tension
- Thread starter buzzzsaw
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rear stay
Ok everyone, feel free to correct me if I am wrong. Buzzzsaw, you will hear from most on this forum that unless you want to race and/or put rake in your mast (bending the top back), the rear stay should be a little loose. The side stays do the work because they are behind the mast. Basically it is there to help keep the mast up if the fecal matter hits the oscillating device. Chris M25 Chara
Ok everyone, feel free to correct me if I am wrong. Buzzzsaw, you will hear from most on this forum that unless you want to race and/or put rake in your mast (bending the top back), the rear stay should be a little loose. The side stays do the work because they are behind the mast. Basically it is there to help keep the mast up if the fecal matter hits the oscillating device. Chris M25 Chara
Unless Masthead
Unless you have one of the masthead rigs. Then the back stay should be tight. Easy good upgrade is an adjustible back stay. You may not use it much now, but when you get the feel for sailing, and the wind comes up, you will.
Unless you have one of the masthead rigs. Then the back stay should be tight. Easy good upgrade is an adjustible back stay. You may not use it much now, but when you get the feel for sailing, and the wind comes up, you will.
Backstay/Forestay/Shrouds
Here is my take on what you are talking about... The fore stay should be pretty tight. I have an adjustable turnbuckle, on mine (about 75.00)worth every penny. The backstay is really ony there if you are going to fly a spinaker (sp) the shouds should be again fairly tight, but not over tight. If you over tighten them, it may compress your deck and crack it or worse. My shouds are tight enough to allow for about 1-2 inches of sideways movement. There was a thread a while back about tuning, and it started by totally disconnecting the backstay from your stern, and backing the mast off so it leans back a bit. Using a screw driver pull own on the adjusters until they shrouds are taught. Do the same on the other side, and make sure that your mast is not leaning to one side or the other. tighten up your forestay, and take a look. to take rake out of your mast, tighten the inner or short shouds, and tighten the forestay. Do the opposite to add rake. If you want to point higher into the wind, then you want to have your mast facing a little forward, but I don't recommend, because these boats want to round up without that. A little rake is good. I say maybe from the spreaders to the top of the mast.... About 3-4 inches is all you need. If you need more, then add the adjustable backstay, and crank on it. If you are using a Boom Vang, that will add some rake as well. reattach your backstay, and set sail!!! Get some help with this, it is way easier and you will not want any of your raising system hooked up when you do this. You want to have as little influence on your mast as possible. Good luck Gregg
Here is my take on what you are talking about... The fore stay should be pretty tight. I have an adjustable turnbuckle, on mine (about 75.00)worth every penny. The backstay is really ony there if you are going to fly a spinaker (sp) the shouds should be again fairly tight, but not over tight. If you over tighten them, it may compress your deck and crack it or worse. My shouds are tight enough to allow for about 1-2 inches of sideways movement. There was a thread a while back about tuning, and it started by totally disconnecting the backstay from your stern, and backing the mast off so it leans back a bit. Using a screw driver pull own on the adjusters until they shrouds are taught. Do the same on the other side, and make sure that your mast is not leaning to one side or the other. tighten up your forestay, and take a look. to take rake out of your mast, tighten the inner or short shouds, and tighten the forestay. Do the opposite to add rake. If you want to point higher into the wind, then you want to have your mast facing a little forward, but I don't recommend, because these boats want to round up without that. A little rake is good. I say maybe from the spreaders to the top of the mast.... About 3-4 inches is all you need. If you need more, then add the adjustable backstay, and crank on it. If you are using a Boom Vang, that will add some rake as well. reattach your backstay, and set sail!!! Get some help with this, it is way easier and you will not want any of your raising system hooked up when you do this. You want to have as little influence on your mast as possible. Good luck Gregg
Look up mast tuning
Look up mast tuning. Seems some one is confusing mast rake with mast bend. They are very different. Compression post under mast holds up the compression. A mast that is too tight is better than a mast that has its shrouds too loose. Don't rake the mast forward!!!! It will give you the worst handleing boat you've ever sailed. Bending the mast flattens your main, good for higher winds. A tight head stay is nessasary for sailing to windward (pointing). Head stay tension is achieved by the force of the forstay being held(opposed) by the upper shrouds on a fractional rig. 2-3" of slop on your shrouds will allow very high shock loads when you come about or jibe. There should be no slop on your lee shrouds on a beem reach, but the lee shrouds should not be so tight they will ring if tapped with a screw driver or wrench. After your first sail, decide if you have too much weather helm(boat rounding up into the wind too much). If you do decrease your mast's rake. If you have lee helm (you should never have lee helm, boat wanting to fall off the wind) increase your rake. Once you have your rig adjusted right, letting out on the forstay to hook and unhook the forstay when trailoring makes it much easier to hook up. The no longer adjusted shrouds will set in your rake and plumb (left right), tightening the back stay after everything else is set up will bend the mast flattening the main for higher winds. This doesn't mean you may still need to reef, but will reduce heel while retaining sail area.
Look up mast tuning. Seems some one is confusing mast rake with mast bend. They are very different. Compression post under mast holds up the compression. A mast that is too tight is better than a mast that has its shrouds too loose. Don't rake the mast forward!!!! It will give you the worst handleing boat you've ever sailed. Bending the mast flattens your main, good for higher winds. A tight head stay is nessasary for sailing to windward (pointing). Head stay tension is achieved by the force of the forstay being held(opposed) by the upper shrouds on a fractional rig. 2-3" of slop on your shrouds will allow very high shock loads when you come about or jibe. There should be no slop on your lee shrouds on a beem reach, but the lee shrouds should not be so tight they will ring if tapped with a screw driver or wrench. After your first sail, decide if you have too much weather helm(boat rounding up into the wind too much). If you do decrease your mast's rake. If you have lee helm (you should never have lee helm, boat wanting to fall off the wind) increase your rake. Once you have your rig adjusted right, letting out on the forstay to hook and unhook the forstay when trailoring makes it much easier to hook up. The no longer adjusted shrouds will set in your rake and plumb (left right), tightening the back stay after everything else is set up will bend the mast flattening the main for higher winds. This doesn't mean you may still need to reef, but will reduce heel while retaining sail area.
I didn't say to point the mast forward,
I said that I don't recommend that. When I said that my shrouds had about 1-2" of movementI meant the shouds, not the mast. It is tight. These boats are not really designed to be tuned like a rce boat, which I have been on, and the shouds are really tight on those. even though there is a compression post in the cabin, it is not sizable to have the boat tuned like a racing boay. Tight, but not overtight is also what I said in my post. I also said that having some rake is good. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
I said that I don't recommend that. When I said that my shrouds had about 1-2" of movementI meant the shouds, not the mast. It is tight. These boats are not really designed to be tuned like a rce boat, which I have been on, and the shouds are really tight on those. even though there is a compression post in the cabin, it is not sizable to have the boat tuned like a racing boay. Tight, but not overtight is also what I said in my post. I also said that having some rake is good. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
Take the flop out
I guess what I get here is that the back stay should only be tight enough so that it doesn't flop about in the wind and not so much as to relieve tension is the shrouds. Just a little tension. Right now the stay is loose to the point where a small kink in the line is noticeable, which I doubt is correct. Maybe enough to allow 4 inches of play in the stay.
I guess what I get here is that the back stay should only be tight enough so that it doesn't flop about in the wind and not so much as to relieve tension is the shrouds. Just a little tension. Right now the stay is loose to the point where a small kink in the line is noticeable, which I doubt is correct. Maybe enough to allow 4 inches of play in the stay.
A Too Loose Backstay...
can impede the boom during a tack. I didn't realize that my backstay turnbuckle was unwinding until I saw the boom hooked on the backstay after a tack.
can impede the boom during a tack. I didn't realize that my backstay turnbuckle was unwinding until I saw the boom hooked on the backstay after a tack.
You are right Buzzzsaw
That seems too loose. I would tighten up a bit. I will see if I can get a shot of mine this weekend. We are all heading up to the lake for the long weekend, and I can see if I can illistrate some of what I am talking about. I might be able to take a video of what I am doing, but I don't know where I can show it to you. I will try though.
That seems too loose. I would tighten up a bit. I will see if I can get a shot of mine this weekend. We are all heading up to the lake for the long weekend, and I can see if I can illistrate some of what I am talking about. I might be able to take a video of what I am doing, but I don't know where I can show it to you. I will try though.
I agree with
Gregg and Greg. An adjustable backstay would let you adjust trim and allow you to loosen the stay for mast raising and lowering. I added a block and pulley setup last year.
Gregg and Greg. An adjustable backstay would let you adjust trim and allow you to loosen the stay for mast raising and lowering. I added a block and pulley setup last year.
Quick Release adjuster
I just installed an aft stay adjuster this week. I needed it in order to get the furling drum (solid furling) in line with the pin. Til now I had to winch the mast forward quite a bit to get it pinned- much easier now. It doesn't take much to make me happy- can't stop smiling. Thanks to other mod contributers for their ideas
I just installed an aft stay adjuster this week. I needed it in order to get the furling drum (solid furling) in line with the pin. Til now I had to winch the mast forward quite a bit to get it pinned- much easier now. It doesn't take much to make me happy- can't stop smiling. Thanks to other mod contributers for their ideas
adjuster
I have one of those for my forestay. I love it. It would be nice if it had more than three holes to adjust, but it is great. O might think about one for the backstay next. Right now I am tuned and ready to hit the water, and I will see what, if anything I need to do by Monday afternoon.
I have one of those for my forestay. I love it. It would be nice if it had more than three holes to adjust, but it is great. O might think about one for the backstay next. Right now I am tuned and ready to hit the water, and I will see what, if anything I need to do by Monday afternoon.
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