Storm sail / Forestay

C

cinnamonsusi

.
Sep 26, 2005
14
Hi all,

I have done a search and see this subject has come up before, but I
couldn't see any firm conclusions. Has anyone who had been thinking
about inner forestays or other methods of hoisting a storm jib a few
years ago actually done it?

Vega 1494 is now staying put for the winter here in La Rochelle & a
means of hoisting a storm jib is something I'm considering (I have a
roller furling genny). I also want to add a spinnaker pole uphaul so
maybe I could kill two birds with one mast fitting?

Any advise, please?

Chris
Vega1494
www.vega1494.blogspot.com
 
V

vegatern

.
Oct 2, 2005
465
I had considered the idea but discarded it after listening to
some replys to my inquiry on the list. It would require a removable
jibstay,and it's deckfitting would need a chain or stay through bolted
to the stem below decks. I understand the deck cannot be reinforced
to take the load. The mast would need support from running backstays
from the point where the new stay attaches on the mast to the side
decks, probably to a point just before the cockpit coaming. This to
keep the mast from buckling forward from the force of wind and
pounding sea. All this would need to be stored alongside the mast or
in the stays, inconvenient to say the least. Also, I would never learn
if it really worked untill the time came when I needed to know that it
really worked. I began to feel like I was trying to re-invent the
wheel. (it is a curse I have, re-inventing wheels)

Craig Tern #1519
cinnamon74@... wrote:
 
C

cinnamonsusi

.
Sep 26, 2005
14
Thanks, I hadn't thought it would be a problem to reinforce the deck
but I had thought extra backstays may be needed (like you say, a lot
of hassle). There is a storm sail which can be hoisted over the
furled genoa but I've heard it's not very good, so I guess it's no
better than using a very furled genoa.

Anyway, cheers for the reply

Chris
 
T

tom_rutter

.
Aug 3, 2005
66
I agree. Debonair had an attempt at this installed when I bought her.
There was an inner forestay attached at the top to the fitting for the pole
lift and at the bottom to a D-ring bolted through the deck.

I spoke to a rigger in Port Solent and he had a bit of a fit about it,
wondering if the deck or the mast would break first, so I took it all off
when the standing rigging was changed. It is a bit of a worry not having
any way of hoisting storm canvas (especially as my main only has 2 reefs)
but that wasn't a solution that would have worked. The roller-reefing
foresail doesn't really do anything when less than half of it is out, but
might work on a broad reach with less (with some reinforcement on the
reefing line).

I can see how keeping the hanked on foresails reduces the anxiety about
strong weather! (as well as space in the forepeak, and energy levels when
single-handing unfortunately)

Tom
 
V

vegatern

.
Oct 2, 2005
465
I solved the problem, and no doubt created others, by removing
the roller furler and going back to hanked on sails. As I worked on
that project a nearby boat hung on it's mooring with it's roller
furled sail a hopelessly tangled mess. Perhaps I'll put it back
someday, it was convenient certinly, but there is also a certain
satisfaction of loosing the halyard and watching the sail pile on deck.
Craig
 
M

millerkm81

.
Oct 2, 2005
86
An idea that I have thought of would be to install a removable solent stay, i.e. a stay that
attaches close to the top of the mast. That would eliminate the need for runners. The
bottom end would be attached where the original bow cleat is located, and the chain
locker bulkhead could be reinforced and glassed to the deck, making for a strong
attachment point I would think. Alternatively, one could install a U-bolt on the inside of
the chain locker and run a wire with a turnbuckle to a through deck fitting. It would be
fair bit of work, but I don't see any reason why it couldn't work.

In other news, Kristen and I are less than two weeks from casting off our lines and heading
south for a long-term cruise. We'll post some messages before we leave about what we've
done to get Whisper ready for the trip, as well as the address to our blog (which is still
being organized).

Hans - Whisper #2751
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom