Running Backstays

[Patrick Turner]

Running Backstays.....anybody out there have them? If so, whattaya think? If not...is the concensus that for CD cutters it isn't necessary? I ask cuz' I haave a CD30 that has a slight bend or "tweak" in the portion of the mast where the stays'l stay attatches, even when all the rigging is loosened up. I've had a couple of Marine Surveyors and a very good rigger tell me after looking at my mast, that there really ought to be some sort of opposing stay at that point. In fact it is unusual that there isn't one. Here in the San Franisco Bay durring the summer afternoons, it is always 18-25 knots. I routinley sail with a double reef in the main and the stays'l....no jib. this combination in a good blow is very well balanced, but I wonder if all the pressure on the mast at that point during this last "windy" summer has had it's toll.

When was the last time you sighted straight up your mast? Did you notice any bend at that point? Not sure what the answere is....would like to hear from other cutters out there.

Pat



patturner@earthlink.net

[Duane]

Patrick, come by and have a look at Mystic sometime. I added running backstays 2 summers ago. I was inspired to do so after observing the mast pumping some 4-6" while sailing with a single reef and staysail. This is how I typically configure the boat on a windy SF day as well. When sailing in a full masthead configuration (no reef, the leech tension of the mainsail helps to support the mast quite a bit and I don't see as much pumping but it's ofcourse, harder to depower the boat.

The 330 comes with intermediate stays but they still are not far enough aft to support the staysail inner forestay.

I had tangs made by Bay Rigger's (now KKMI) and made the stays out of light weight bare Spectra. On the bottom I have a 3:1 block and tackle for tensioning. I attach them to a jib car that I added as far aft as possible. It's a pretty simple project and it's easy to use.

Let me know if you have any questions

Duane Yoslov
s/v Mystic
Sausalito

Running Backstays.....anybody out there have them? If so, whattaya think? If not...is the concensus that for CD cutters it isn't necessary? I ask cuz' I haave a CD30 that has a slight bend or "tweak" in the portion of the mast where the stays'l stay attatches, even when all the rigging is loosened up. I've had a couple of Marine Surveyors and a very good rigger tell me after looking at my mast, that there really ought to be some sort of opposing stay at that point. In fact it is unusual that there isn't one. Here in the San Franisco Bay durring the summer afternoons, it is always 18-25 knots. I routinley sail with a double reef in the main and the stays'l....no jib. this combination in a good blow is very well balanced, but I wonder if all the pressure on the mast at that point during this last "windy" summer has had it's toll.

When was the last time you sighted straight up your mast? Did you notice any bend at that point? Not sure what the answere is....would like to hear from other cutters out there.

Pat

yoslovd@aol.com

[John Baker]

Patrick,
Solana is a CD31 cutter. She has running backstays but I do not use them. Since I tack regularly, they would be inconvienient to use. On San Francisco Bay I usually use a single reef in the main with the stays'l. I do not have any warp in the mast. Last year I had the Stays replaced. The rigger foumd no warps.

Patrick, come by and have a look at Mystic sometime. I added running backstays 2 summers ago. I was inspired to do so after observing the mast pumping some 4-6" while sailing with a single reef and staysail. This is how I typically configure the boat on a windy SF day as well. When sailing in a full masthead configuration (no reef, the leech tension of the mainsail helps to support the mast quite a bit and I don't see as much pumping but it's ofcourse, harder to depower the boat.

The 330 comes with intermediate stays but they still are not far enough aft to support the staysail inner forestay.

I had tangs made by Bay Rigger's (now KKMI) and made the stays out of light weight bare Spectra. On the bottom I have a 3:1 block and tackle for tensioning. I attach them to a jib car that I added as far aft as possible. It's a pretty simple project and it's easy to use.

Let me know if you have any questions

Duane Yoslov
s/v Mystic
Sausalito

Running Backstays.....anybody out there have them? If so, whattaya think? If not...is the concensus that for CD cutters it isn't necessary? I ask cuz' I haave a CD30 that has a slight bend or "tweak" in the portion of the mast where the stays'l stay attatches, even when all the rigging is loosened up. I've had a couple of Marine Surveyors and a very good rigger tell me after looking at my mast, that there really ought to be some sort of opposing stay at that point. In fact it is unusual that there isn't one. Here in the San Franisco Bay durring the summer afternoons, it is always 18-25 knots. I routinley sail with a double reef in the main and the stays'l....no jib. this combination in a good blow is very well balanced, but I wonder if all the pressure on the mast at that point during this last "windy" summer has had it's toll.

When was the last time you sighted straight up your mast? Did you notice any bend at that point? Not sure what the answere is....would like to hear from other cutters out there.

Pat

micaelaf@earthlink.net

[Duane]

John,

Next time it's really blowing go up and have a look at what your mast is doing with a reefed main and staysail configuration. It may not be warped but it is definitely not good for the mast to be working back and forth.

Patrick,
Solana is a CD31 cutter. She has running backstays but I do not use them. Since I tack regularly, they would be inconvienient to use. On San Francisco Bay I usually use a single reef in the main with the stays'l. I do not have any warp in the mast. Last year I had the Stays replaced. The rigger foumd no warps.

Patrick, come by and have a look at Mystic sometime. I added running backstays 2 summers ago. I was inspired to do so after observing the mast pumping some 4-6" while sailing with a single reef and staysail. This is how I typically configure the boat on a windy SF day as well. When sailing in a full masthead configuration (no reef, the leech tension of the mainsail helps to support the mast quite a bit and I don't see as much pumping but it's ofcourse, harder to depower the boat.

The 330 comes with intermediate stays but they still are not far enough aft to support the staysail inner forestay.

I had tangs made by Bay Rigger's (now KKMI) and made the stays out of light weight bare Spectra. On the bottom I have a 3:1 block and tackle for tensioning. I attach them to a jib car that I added as far aft as possible. It's a pretty simple project and it's easy to use.

Let me know if you have any questions

Duane Yoslov
s/v Mystic
Sausalito

Running Backstays.....anybody out there have them? If so, whattaya think? If not...is the concensus that for CD cutters it isn't necessary? I ask cuz' I haave a CD30 that has a slight bend or "tweak" in the portion of the mast where the stays'l stay attatches, even when all the rigging is loosened up. I've had a couple of Marine Surveyors and a very good rigger tell me after looking at my mast, that there really ought to be some sort of opposing stay at that point. In fact it is unusual that there isn't one. Here in the San Franisco Bay durring the summer afternoons, it is always 18-25 knots. I routinley sail with a double reef in the main and the stays'l....no jib. this combination in a good blow is very well balanced, but I wonder if all the pressure on the mast at that point during this last "windy" summer has had it's toll.

When was the last time you sighted straight up your mast? Did you notice any bend at that point? Not sure what the answere is....would like to hear from other cutters out there.

Pat

yoslovd@aol.com

[Patrick Turner]

Hey Duane,

I popped down to check out your boat this morning after seeing your post. Looks like a pretty good setup and as you say...not difficult to put together. I'm ordering the tangs today...

Pat



patturner@earthlink.net