Second SS316 removable forestay to accommodate a hank-on jib on a 1985 Hunter 28.5

[Sailingone]

I bought a H28.5 this week and want to add an additional, removable SS316 for stay, just behind the main forestay, that is fitted with a Furler, to be able to fly a jib in heavier winds, without having to do a sailchange on the furler.
Has anyone ever considered this ?
When the Jib is not in use, the hank-on sail will only be lowered, but not removed, then secured in a bag and the complete second forestay loosened with a quick release mechanism and secured at the side of the mast.
Reason, I sail a lot solo and dislike sail changes on the furler, while underway.
I believe the deck, about 8-10" behind the tack of the main forestay, with reinforcement, can handle the load and stress at that point on the deck.
Not quite sure what needs to be done at the top of the mast, to anchor a second forestay, but I hope I can make up something that transferes most of the load to where the main forestay is attached to.
The furler that this H28.5 is fitted with, is not the original, as this has the genoa halyard internal to the furler tough-luff extrusion, with the halyard secured just above the drum and rotates with the furler unit. perhaps another reason why I am considering a second removable forestay, to fly a jib.
Any thoughts or suggestions. The H28.5 is a double spreader strait and masthead rig.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I often caution folks, especially with new-to-them boats: slow down, wait, become familiar first BEFORE you start making big changes.

Given your description of your gear, it sounds like you have an older CDI furler. I had one when I bought my 1986 C34 in 1998, only 12 years old. For a boat of that size, and yours which isn't that much smaller, those furlers are, ahem, a joke; a toy that would work on a 22 footer, maybe.

Instead of the complications of a second forestay, and IMHO of no need for one with your rig, consider replacing your furler with a new 21st century piece of gear. I replaced that CDI and chose ProFurl because of its built-in wrap stop top swivel. Harken is another great choice.

IIRC, you don't really have a big genoa, you have a huge mainsail and a small working jib. What year is your boat? Am I correct? If so, deal with higher winds by reefing your main. My masthead sloop would "like" to reef the main at 18 knots and on windy SF Bay I ran a summer 85 and winter 110 jib on the furler and never used the furler to reef a jib even though ProFurl supported that. I chose a jib for each season.

Good luck, hope you think this through before you do something unnecessary.

 

[kloudie1]

You could also consider a jib with a wire luff so that second halyard could be out of the way when tacking the roller furl sail. The wire luff sets “flying “ so no stay required.