No Backstay?

[dmdiehl64]

Reading a review of the Oceanis 34.1 and they note “no backstay”. I’m no naval architect, but does this give anyone else nerves? Is it expected you’re not flying spinnaker in heavy air, or some other design detail accounts for nixing the backstay(s)?

 

[Tally Ho]

Many Hunter‘s with a B&R rig have no backstay. I had a 28 footer with the B&R Rig. The spreaders are swept back a bit, which is enough to keep the mast from falling forward.

I haven’t heard of any B&R rigs failing by falling forward…but will follow responses.


Greg

 

[Hayden Watson]

I have never been comfortable with the idea of no backstay. There is a guy on this forum who has his Hunter set up with cameras and the amount of headstay sag it shows is truly alarming.

 

[dmdiehl64]

That’s a great point. I noted the aft swept spreaders but just have a hard time imagining in a good blow that would be sufficient.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Assuming the Beneteau engineers did their job as well as Hunter’s B&R designers I wouldn’t worry about the strength, but like any design decision it’s a compromise. The swept back spreaders are designed to provide a strong enough rig, but they make running downwind more difficult by interfering with the main.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

One often overlooked consideration with rigging dependent on a single backstay is if it fails. While swept back spreaders can also fail, they share the load vs. a single backstay rigging which bears the entire load.

 

[Hayden Watson]

One often overlooked consideration with rigging dependent on a single backstay is if it fails. While swept back spreaders can also fail, they share the load vs. a single backstay rigging which bears the entire load.

I would say that is a false sense of security. Given the difference in angle on the single backstay behind the mainsail and the dual aft lowers on the swept back spreaders, the loads on the rigging on a B&R is far higher than on a similar sized boat with a backstay.

 

[kloudie1]

Check out ocean racers and catamarans. Not many have backstays

 

[dmdiehl64]

Check out ocean racers and catamarans. Not many have backstays

100% of the golden globe boats do, but I suppose I’m not racing a beneteau through the southern ocean.

 

[danstanford]

I think one of the biggest reasons to live without the backstay is the extra roach you can carry in the main. The only other way to carry that much up top is running backstays which are a lot more work.

 

[Scott B]

Reading a review of the Oceanis 34.1 and they note “no backstay”. I’m no naval architect, but does this give anyone else nerves? Is it expected you’re not flying spinnaker in heavy air, or some other design detail accounts for nixing the backstay(s)?

Hunter has used the B&R mast on all their boats with no backstay for over 20 yrs., including the 49.

 

[jssailem]

Dinghy's like the FJ, flying scott and Hobbie 18's do not have back stays.

It is a design that works for the use the boat was designed. Sailing in the northern latitudes - ocean passages - could be an issue in a "perfect storm". One picks their boat and their sailing waters.

 

[Calif. Ted]

There's a Hunter 38 next to me and it has some "struts" that extend backwards from mast to cabintop, is that common to the Hunters without backstays ?

 

[Mechone]

Many owners of Hunters that have done Atlantic crossings have added backstays and staysails My boat has double backstay and swept spreaders

 

[Hollyberry]

Our last two boats have had swept spreader, but also adjustable backstays. I'd hate to give up the ability to mess with mast bend and forestay tension....

 

[Mechone]

Many owners of Hunters that have done Atlantic crossings have added backstays and staysails My boat has double backstay and swept spreaders

And if Iwas doing an Atlantic crossing I would also add running backstays