i have a 1985 hunter 23 that i bought this sept i would like to raise the forstay 8 to 10 inches up the mast so i can get my jib off the deckand out of my bow railing.i have a schackel that i bought it looks like a chain binder this way it makes things easer to set up om my trailer this way i can set the forstay tension and just flip a lever. i know i have to raise the jib halyard too. i am trying to setup my boat for singlehand sailing.any ideas would help thanks chris
raising the forstay
- Thread starter chris henninger
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It seems you have fractional standing rigging.
For your boat to sail properly you need a certain degree of mast rake. You offset the ability to be able to rake the mast and you may bring about a lot of undesirable characteristics. The proper way would be to cut the sail and raise the foot but you would giving away a large percentage of the sail and power. Don't quite follow how a shorter sail would help to singlehand. A well tuned boat is easier to singlehand. My advice would be to thoroughly familiarize with the boat before you start making changes.
For your boat to sail properly you need a certain degree of mast rake. You offset the ability to be able to rake the mast and you may bring about a lot of undesirable characteristics. The proper way would be to cut the sail and raise the foot but you would giving away a large percentage of the sail and power. Don't quite follow how a shorter sail would help to singlehand. A well tuned boat is easier to singlehand. My advice would be to thoroughly familiarize with the boat before you start making changes.
Raise the mast attachment point
Chris, The easy way for you to do this, and NOT make it permanent, is to raise the point where the forestay attaches to the mast. A drill and two wrenches is all you need. Then attach your quick-release (probably a Johnson make) to the bottom. You'll have to totally readjust all the rigging for a proper setup. A note on these quick clams is needed here. They typically come with a retaining pin that has a spring ball in the end. DON"T use it unless you want your mast in the cockpit at some point in life. It WILL pop out sooner or later. Use a standard pin and ring-cotter or a pin with a spring loaded bar retainer. I agree with Benny though, in that you really risk making your boat unbalanced by raising the wind effort at the bow if you do it. Cutting the jib would reduce the power, also with undesirable results. I too, think you should use your boat for a while before you make changes. Trading quick set-up for poor handling/sailing is a bad trade. I offer this method as a way to allow you to experiment (cuz you probably will anyway - sailors are like that) without doing anything that can't be undone. Good luck TC
Chris, The easy way for you to do this, and NOT make it permanent, is to raise the point where the forestay attaches to the mast. A drill and two wrenches is all you need. Then attach your quick-release (probably a Johnson make) to the bottom. You'll have to totally readjust all the rigging for a proper setup. A note on these quick clams is needed here. They typically come with a retaining pin that has a spring ball in the end. DON"T use it unless you want your mast in the cockpit at some point in life. It WILL pop out sooner or later. Use a standard pin and ring-cotter or a pin with a spring loaded bar retainer. I agree with Benny though, in that you really risk making your boat unbalanced by raising the wind effort at the bow if you do it. Cutting the jib would reduce the power, also with undesirable results. I too, think you should use your boat for a while before you make changes. Trading quick set-up for poor handling/sailing is a bad trade. I offer this method as a way to allow you to experiment (cuz you probably will anyway - sailors are like that) without doing anything that can't be undone. Good luck TC
don't change the forestay....
it will alter the dynamic of your rig and won't improve your ability to shorthand. As CalebD suggests, it is simpler, cheaper and safer to modify the headsail. Give a local sail loft a call and get his input. You'll need to build a wire pendant for attaching the sail tack to allow the sail to hoist off the deck. Quick release fittings are common on trailerable sailboats. On my Nacra catamaran I have a tang with 6-8 holes for adjustment and a quick release clevis pin to secure the forestay. Easy.... there are other systems. Look in some sailing supply catalogues, such as Annapolis Performance Sailing www.apsltd.com for examples.
it will alter the dynamic of your rig and won't improve your ability to shorthand. As CalebD suggests, it is simpler, cheaper and safer to modify the headsail. Give a local sail loft a call and get his input. You'll need to build a wire pendant for attaching the sail tack to allow the sail to hoist off the deck. Quick release fittings are common on trailerable sailboats. On my Nacra catamaran I have a tang with 6-8 holes for adjustment and a quick release clevis pin to secure the forestay. Easy.... there are other systems. Look in some sailing supply catalogues, such as Annapolis Performance Sailing www.apsltd.com for examples.
don't do it
For all the aforementioned reasons. Alaso, any surveyor will red flag it, if and when they inspect it. This will devalue your boat and scare off buyers.
For all the aforementioned reasons. Alaso, any surveyor will red flag it, if and when they inspect it. This will devalue your boat and scare off buyers.
Chris
There should already be 10-12" of room in the anchor locker for your over-center link. Just get a shorter forestay! As for the jib, experiment by using line of different lengths to connect the foot to the boat. The boat comes stock with a wire-rope pendant, but if you look up the forestay you have a little room for a higher hoist. When I installed the CDI, i can jsut hoist my sail all the way up and it is fine clearing the bow railing.
There should already be 10-12" of room in the anchor locker for your over-center link. Just get a shorter forestay! As for the jib, experiment by using line of different lengths to connect the foot to the boat. The boat comes stock with a wire-rope pendant, but if you look up the forestay you have a little room for a higher hoist. When I installed the CDI, i can jsut hoist my sail all the way up and it is fine clearing the bow railing.
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