Remove baby forestay?

larrywalk

larrywalk

.
Jul 15, 2014
3
Beneteau Oceanis 381 coronado
As a new owner of a Beneteau Oceanis 381 (2001), I was wondering about removing the baby forestay which is between the mast and headstay. The headstay is attached to the mast head and bow; the baby forestay is attached about half way up the mast and has a lot less tension than the headstay and shrouds.

The reason I ask is that the foredeck area would be a great spot to lash an inflatable dinghy for crusing; with the baby forestay in place, it can't be done. Supposedly, the baby forestay helps prevent a mast oscillation in certain conditions.

Who has any experience with this?
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
The Baby stay affects mast pre-bend - forward bowing of the mast near the spreaders. That induced forward bowing mathematically 'stiffens' the mast ... to prevents/lessens 'mast pumping'.

Salimakers expect this forward bowing or 'pre-bow' to be present when designing/cutting the sails.
Therefore, when in the moderate to higher wind ranges and with a non-pre-bowed mast, expect that your mainsail will have an increased amount of sail draft; hence, a slightly more aggressive heel from the 'powered-up' shape of the mainsail (but is good for 'punching' into waves). Your ability to 'point' will also be slightly less effective. Also, when the wind increases (with unreefed sails flying) there's a possibility that the mast will 'reverse bow' due to the mainsail pressure load on it, which usually further increases the amount of draft in the mainsail. There's more to this but the above should be sufficient to help make your decision.

Rx: With the baby stay detached, in light to moderate winds probably no effects; in the higher wind ranges expect to heel over more and with less pointing ability.

See - http://www.riggingandsails.com/pdf/selden-tuning.pdf .... of how/what/why for baby stays, etc.

hope this helps ;-)
 
J

Jayster

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Nov 1, 2013
10
Beneteau 38s5 Dana Point
Hi Larrywalk,
RichH provided some great insight. My suggestion is to consider having a quick release added to the turnbuckle end of your baby stay where it attaches to the deck. On almost every boat that I have sailed on that has had a baby stay there was a way to disconnect the baby stay when it is not needed. Just as most people that have runners normally disconnect them and secure them near the shrouds when they are not racing the same can be done with the baby stay. I personally don't see the sense in removing something that is already there and may reduce the value of the boat when you go to sell it.
I guess another another question to consider is if you are running a furling system on your main? If so then is may be a moot point when it comes to tuning your rig. If your set up is traditional then I would find a way to keep it and make it removable.
Either way keep it simple and fun.
 
larrywalk

larrywalk

.
Jul 15, 2014
3
Beneteau Oceanis 381 coronado
Thanks for the replies

Thanks for the replies - I'm learning a lot!
 
Last edited:
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
larrywalk said:
I was wondering about removing the baby forestay..
the baby forestay is attached about half way up the mast and has a lot less tension than the headstay and shrouds.

The reason I ask is that the foredeck area would be a great spot to lash a dinghy for crusing; with the baby forestay in place, it can't be done. Supposedly, the baby forestay helps prevent a mast oscillation in certain conditions.

Who has any experience with this?
Click to expand
I have the same issue and was wonder the same thing... i would like the bring the hard dinghy aboard and stow on the fordeck/coachroof...

MY QUESTION is.... instead of one babystay in the center, what would be the issue with removing it from the center and adding another one... then attaching them to the side/corners of the coach roof.

this would leave the center free to allow a dinghy lay comfortably and be lashed securely.

also from the standpoint of stress distribution, attaching to the side of the coachroof at the foreward corners, rather than in the center of the forward slope of the coachroof, would make a much more solid attachment point.

it would also allow another handhold when going forward on deck, but would it mess with the headsail too much during a tack?

is this reasonable?
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
centerline said:
MY QUESTION is.... instead of one babystay in the center, what would be the issue with removing it from the center and adding another one... then attaching them to the side/corners of the coach roof.
Click to expand
Take both to the proximity of the cap rail ... and call them forward lower shrouds. You'll need a technical based rigger, etc. to do this; Plus, someone to design adequate chainplates and chain plate bases with the equivalent 'safety factor' of the boat's basic stress design ... many 'dynamic' stress calculations involved. Cheaper and faster to put suitable and well 'elevated' dinghy davits on the boat - IMO.

Baby stays are usually found on boats without forward lowers (and lower aft) shrouds.
 
centerline

centerline

.
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
RichH said:
.

Baby stays are usually found on boats without forward lowers (and lower aft) shrouds.
Click to expand
which is the way my rigging plan is, single lowers on the 34-MK3... the mk1 had double lowers.

it is also rigged for an inner forestay and running backstays, but neither are on the boat at this time.(they are with the extra rigging that came with the boat, in a box)..
 
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