I thought I should have an adjustable backstay tensioner on this fractional rig. There is no adjuster though. Is this normal pls? Patrick in Port Charlotte
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Patrick, many racing skippers use the ...
adjustable backstay to tweak draft position and depth depending upon point of sail and wind conditions. It is an important competitive advantage. We do not have one our boat mainly because we do not race. Hunter does not provide this feature as standard equipment on their boats. Terry
adjustable backstay to tweak draft position and depth depending upon point of sail and wind conditions. It is an important competitive advantage. We do not have one our boat mainly because we do not race. Hunter does not provide this feature as standard equipment on their boats. Terry
Pincer Adjuster is a Cheap Improvement
For less than a $100 a pincer-type backstay adjuster is probably the cheapest speed/performance improvement you can make to your boat. It not only will improve speed but boat handling as well. In the higher wind ranges, say in the teens and up, the boat will "stand up" better and not heel as much, pointing will improve by several degrees, there will be less weather helm (read less drag), and the boat basically just drives better. I'd make a distinction between speed/performance improvement and, say, something like adding telltails which really by themselves don't improve speed/performance but enable speed/performance. A cunningham is another speed/performance improvement of low cost but for most boats this would most likely cost a bit more and some would benefit more than others.
For less than a $100 a pincer-type backstay adjuster is probably the cheapest speed/performance improvement you can make to your boat. It not only will improve speed but boat handling as well. In the higher wind ranges, say in the teens and up, the boat will "stand up" better and not heel as much, pointing will improve by several degrees, there will be less weather helm (read less drag), and the boat basically just drives better. I'd make a distinction between speed/performance improvement and, say, something like adding telltails which really by themselves don't improve speed/performance but enable speed/performance. A cunningham is another speed/performance improvement of low cost but for most boats this would most likely cost a bit more and some would benefit more than others.
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