More Power! Cascaded Backstay/Upgraded Mainsheet

[Rightbrainer]

The stock setup on my boat is a 4:1 backstay adjusting tackle run through a block on the end of the backstay, which yields 8:1 overall. The mainsheet is a 3:1 tackle. I wanted more power on both so I cascaded the backstay and swapped the tackle.

My new setup is a 12:1 backstay for a 50% increase in power and a 4:1 mainsheet for a 33% power increase.

I obtained a used adjustable backstay and rigged the wire block to the end of the 7x19 flexible bottom section. Put a rigging triangle on the transom tang and string it all up as shown in the pictures.





Sorry about the grime, etc. I didn't tidy things up before taking the pictures.

 

[sinnettc]

Looks good. Don't pull the mast down on your head.

 

[stevenwp2]

I did something similar, swapping the vang and the mainsheet fiddle blocks and adding a block to the vang making it 6:1 and the mainsheet 4:1. In light air, we've reconnected the mainsheet straight to the first sheave, going back to 3:1 and it worked great.

Still at 8:1 for the back stay and I like it as it starts feeling pretty tight right about the time I want it to. I do look forward to running the lines up to both side of the traveler as looking and reaching back is a bit distracting.

Still looking for (another) 155 hank on if anyone's got one... ;-)

Steve S.

 

[xsubsquid]

I have oh so much to learn.

Was that Klingon? I barely understood it!

 

[Chris Capri 22]

Judas Priest! You need that much leverage to haul on backstay? Guess it's important to have the upper 1/3 of the mast parallel to the top batten. Who knew?

 

[shnool]

Depends on the winds you are dealing with (for the mainsheet anyway).. also how little effort he wants to use to adjust the backstay. Gotta remember that 12:1 in 1 stage is slow. 2 stages is course + fine adjust. Typical backstay adjustment is 8:1. My Capri 25 is actually only 4:1, but with a double sliding pully, on the split backstay (and straight down)... it works, but it DOES leave small adjustments only, and takes some effort at max adjust.

Going from 3:1 mainsheet to 4:1 should be doable with the stock mainsheet tackle. More than that, and you have to add a couple blocks. Again, need more line to give the same amount of adjustment, and speed of adjustment is compromised with extra purchase (hence why many go with 2 stage adjustment).