Split Backstay for O'Day 222

[daleyellin]

I am thinking of going to a split backstay on my 222 for several reasons. The primary is that I want to install a traveler, and a going a cabin top mount arrangement doesn't come close to getting mid-boom. I could get to mid-boom by mounting the traveler on, or just aft of the cabin step, but I don't want the interference with getting into, and out of, the cabin. Consequently, I'm looking at mounting the traveler across the transom and keeping the end-boom sheeting.

Before I start adding chain plates, and cutting wire, I'd like some opinions, ideas, and thoughts.

Thanks,

Dale

 

[Brian S]

Dale, look up Trinkka here on the forum. Joe has a traveller mounted in his 222, and it consists of a wood bridge across the seats just aft of the bridge deck.

I have heard people say that a traveller just aft of the companionway isn't as big a deal as you think it will be.

I would not want the traveller across the seats in my 192, because one of our favorite chill out spots is with our backs against the cabin. (Captain usually has to wait until on the hook or at the dock...)

Brian

 

[daleyellin]

Brian - I've seen Joe's traveler arrangement for his situation. Like you, I don't want to give up a foot of cockpit seating. I wanted to mount the traveler on the cabin top right about wear the aft edge is when the sliding section is fully open. Unfortunately, that places the traveler, and mainsheet too close to the mast. Consequently, going with the transom mount option retains the most cockpit space.

Dale

 

[daleyellin]

Brian - I've seen Joe's traveler arrangement for his situation. Like you, I don't want to give up a foot of cockpit seating. I wanted to mount the traveler on the cabin top right about wear the aft edge is when the sliding section is fully open. Unfortunately, that places the traveler, and mainsheet too close to the mast. Consequently, going with the transom mount option retains the most cockpit space.

Dale

Brian - The above should have that Joe's design is good for his sailing situation.

Dale

 

[Merlin Clark]

I didn't like my traveler arrangement so went with double mainsheets instead. You can see it in my album.
It works well for me. I set it up 3:1 which is fine for my 150 sq ft main and I can sheet my boom above centerline.

 

[daleyellin]

Thanks for sharing your solution. From what I could see in the pictures, it looks like you have a split backstay. The double main sheet rigging looks like it eliminates the need for a traveler.

Dale

 

[Brian S]

Daleyellin, unfortunately, the 192/222 just doesn't seem amenable to a traveller. I have thought about where I could put one myself. The easiest would be the aft edge of the bridge deck, but the bridge deck is far to narrow to get any decent movement. You wouldn't be able to move the car far enough to windward to get the boom on the centerline.

I thought about putting a track on the aft coaming lip, but then I remembered the tiller comes across the transom. So, then you'd be building a raised bridge in order to clear the tiller, and that might get clunky. Perhaps something made of custom welded SS square tubing would be strong enough and low profile enough to mount the traveller track?

Then, based on your description of the cabin top, I wondered if you meant to make a raised bridgework to go over top of the sliding hatch lid. But there are issues of where to mount to the side of the cabin top, and then once it's there, you've got an obstruction to the companionway opening. Even if it was forward of the aft edge of the cabin, it's still right over the top of the opening when the hatch is slid forward and open, and I stand up in that area all the time. So that's a non-starter for me.

So for now, I have just resigned myself to having the end boom sheeting. It's all a trade-off; either I have a boat with mid-boom sheeting and a traveller across the cockpit seats and better performance, or I have a comfy large cockpit. Since the boat is purely a cruiser, and nowhere near a racer/cruiser, I'm fine with her as she is.

Further to this, with my rig loaded to roughly 15% of the 1/8" wire breaking strength, I think my rigging is a little tight, as I seem to have a fair amount of mast pre-bend, and keeping a reasonably tight backstay, I feel I've got a bit too much tweak at the top of the mast. I'm afraid if I tried to make the backstay adjustable, it would induce too much tip bend above the hounds... I'm very happy with the rig balance now, and I'm loathe to pull all the dang cotter pins AGAIN to loosen the rig some more, so I'm keeping her as is for now. I tried to tighten the lowers and pull some of that pre-bend out of the mast, but now I'm worried because the rigging instructions say the lowers shouldn't be tight at all. Yeah, I think I've got the rig too tight. But I hate jib luff sag!

Brian

 

[Merlin Clark]

Thanks for sharing your solution. From what I could see in the pictures, it looks like you have a split backstay. The double main sheet rigging looks like it eliminates the need for a traveler.

Dale

Yes, mine is one of the old boats that has a notch in the center of the transom for the outboard, hence the split stay.
My traveler track was mounted about 16" forward of the transom and a pita to work around when messing with the engine and it was behind the crew anyway, so I got rid of it.
The double mainsheet gives us windward sheeting (hauling the boom above centerline) but there is another rig that works well but doesn't allow the crew to sheet as high, the Crosby rig. The benefit is it's simpler with only one sheet to mess with and less expensive in hardware and line, as well as less line in the cockpit when under sail. Drawings (swiped online) of both below.

 

[daleyellin]

Thanks for the drawings of the double main sheet rigging. That might just be a solution instead of going to the split backstay and traveler.

Thanks, again.

Dale