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Dick of Sylvan
Adjustable Backstay
My 1975 C22 came to me with an adjustable backstay. It ends in a Y connection to the transom, with a little pulley device to tighten/loosen. I initially set up the mast raked back 7 or 8 inches (determined by a crescent wrench temporarily attached to a loose main halyard). Then in strong winds, I rake it back more to keep a light weather helm by adjusting the pulley device. I think Catalina Direct sells something similar. Dick
My 1975 C22 came to me with an adjustable backstay. It ends in a Y connection to the transom, with a little pulley device to tighten/loosen. I initially set up the mast raked back 7 or 8 inches (determined by a crescent wrench temporarily attached to a loose main halyard). Then in strong winds, I rake it back more to keep a light weather helm by adjusting the pulley device. I think Catalina Direct sells something similar. Dick
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Joe Ford
Bending or Raking?
I'm not sure how much it will affect your boat's performance, but I know you cannot reset the mast rake (i.e. fore and aft angle) without at least adjusting the forestay, and perhaps the shrouds. Dick's suggestion is incorrect, he is BENDING the mast, and de-powering his main with the adjustable backstay. That is why he lessens the weather helm. If he were RAKING the mast he would be moving the entire center of effort towards the rudder, thus increasing weather helm. You do not need an adjustable backstay to rake the mast, but you may need a longer forestay. Again, I am not sure what performance factor you are trying to increase, but raking the mast is all about moving the rig's center of effort to achieve a particular degree of balance.
I'm not sure how much it will affect your boat's performance, but I know you cannot reset the mast rake (i.e. fore and aft angle) without at least adjusting the forestay, and perhaps the shrouds. Dick's suggestion is incorrect, he is BENDING the mast, and de-powering his main with the adjustable backstay. That is why he lessens the weather helm. If he were RAKING the mast he would be moving the entire center of effort towards the rudder, thus increasing weather helm. You do not need an adjustable backstay to rake the mast, but you may need a longer forestay. Again, I am not sure what performance factor you are trying to increase, but raking the mast is all about moving the rig's center of effort to achieve a particular degree of balance.
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tomD
getting it right
I take it you want to rake your mast to balance CE and CR. It takes me about an hour to do and once done is set until I need to de-rig. With the boat sitting on its lines in the water, loosen off the sidestays so they are loose but not sloppy. Loosen off the headstay. Then tie the winchhandle to the main halyard and use it as a plumb-bob. Set the forestay and backstay to tense but not taut when the halyard line is 7 inches back from the aft edge of the mast. Now tighten the lower sidestays in pairs, a port and a stbd. Takng your time to bring them in equally, a few turns per side, tighten them until they twang when you pluck them. Then do the masthead sidestay. Check your plumb line halyard to be sure you are still raked 7 inches.Harden up the forestay and backstay equally, little at a time until everything is taut. Now, sight up the forestay, lining up the forestay with the centre of the mast and look for a sideways bend, esp. above the spreaders. If there is one, take it out by tightening the appropriate sidestay. It won't take much unless you got way off when you were doing this. My boat will point very high set up like this under full sail plan, 1 reef in main, and stormsail and reefed main. It may be more balanced than some like, but in high winds, C-22's round up pretty hard, and this helps. I hope this is what you meant. An adjustable backstay is good for tweaking the masthead fore and aft when racing, but really is not needed for a boat set up for cruising.
I take it you want to rake your mast to balance CE and CR. It takes me about an hour to do and once done is set until I need to de-rig. With the boat sitting on its lines in the water, loosen off the sidestays so they are loose but not sloppy. Loosen off the headstay. Then tie the winchhandle to the main halyard and use it as a plumb-bob. Set the forestay and backstay to tense but not taut when the halyard line is 7 inches back from the aft edge of the mast. Now tighten the lower sidestays in pairs, a port and a stbd. Takng your time to bring them in equally, a few turns per side, tighten them until they twang when you pluck them. Then do the masthead sidestay. Check your plumb line halyard to be sure you are still raked 7 inches.Harden up the forestay and backstay equally, little at a time until everything is taut. Now, sight up the forestay, lining up the forestay with the centre of the mast and look for a sideways bend, esp. above the spreaders. If there is one, take it out by tightening the appropriate sidestay. It won't take much unless you got way off when you were doing this. My boat will point very high set up like this under full sail plan, 1 reef in main, and stormsail and reefed main. It may be more balanced than some like, but in high winds, C-22's round up pretty hard, and this helps. I hope this is what you meant. An adjustable backstay is good for tweaking the masthead fore and aft when racing, but really is not needed for a boat set up for cruising.
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Rob j
thanks
thanks tom d for the info i will try tommorow its nice to know the boats balanced .what point of sail do you find this makes the most differencs?
thanks tom d for the info i will try tommorow its nice to know the boats balanced .what point of sail do you find this makes the most differencs?
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tomD
going to wind
Hey Rob. Lake Okanagan can blow up in a hurry, as can Kootenay lake. Neither have much shelter so getting the boat to handle in that stuff is pretty important. BTW I did not add that the 7 inch measure point is along the boom when pigtailed, where the halyard line crosses the top of the boom. Beating and going to wind is where you will notice the improvement. The boat will point very high to wind when the rake is set. In good breezes, mine will sail closehauled with no one on the tiller. It also rounds up less in big puffs when tuned.
Hey Rob. Lake Okanagan can blow up in a hurry, as can Kootenay lake. Neither have much shelter so getting the boat to handle in that stuff is pretty important. BTW I did not add that the 7 inch measure point is along the boom when pigtailed, where the halyard line crosses the top of the boom. Beating and going to wind is where you will notice the improvement. The boat will point very high to wind when the rake is set. In good breezes, mine will sail closehauled with no one on the tiller. It also rounds up less in big puffs when tuned.
R
Rob j
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tomD
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