Mast staysail fitting

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  • 28th January 2010 at 12:13 pm #11092

      My HT doesn't have a staysail fitted, but looks like there was one in the past. The deck fitting is missing and easily replaced, but at the crosstrees there is only an eye secured by 4 pop rivets which looks rather fragile. Was thinking of modifying the through-bolt that secures the lower shrouds. Any comments?

      4th February 2010 at 6:52 pm #11850

        Iain. Geoff has some ideas to put to you and he's trying to find time to answer you thoroughly. If you can be patient he'll get to you as soon as he can. I think the answer he's thinking of is not simple and straightforward, so he needs time to describe fully what he means. Watch this space. Chrissie

        7th February 2010 at 7:46 pm #11851

          Hi Iain
          Your HT rig should have a baby stay attached to it at all times, so something is amiss. I need to know if there are any wires in the spreader area, angled slightly aft (lower shrouds). If these are not there, then your mast must be unstayed in the middle, which is bad news. If they are there, the missing baby inner forestay is important. Either way something is wrong. If you could e mail me a picture to oceanswan@hotmail.com, that would clarify things, or if that's not easy describe more fully what you have.

          The bottom end of the baby stay should have on the foredeck a chainplate, which goes through the foredeck and bolts onto the plywood divide between the foredeck lockers. The top end should have a fitting rivetted to the mast that is C shaped and cuddles the mast and is fitted at an angle to accept the strain of the forestay. It is important that it has the lower shrouds in place to balance the foreward pull. If you can give me more detail, or pics then we can be more certain what you have, and what you need.

          Regards

          Geoff

          13th June 2010 at 6:43 pm #11853

            Hi Geoff

            I have 2 lower shrouds leading aft to the cockpit combing and 2 lower shrouds just foreward of the main side stays. Do I still need a baby inner forestay. The previous owner did not fit one and said he never needed one. Please can you advise

            Regards Paul

            15th June 2010 at 7:46 am #11854

              Dear Paul

              The baby stay serves two purposes. You can hank on a sail which will help with windward performance and it also gives support to the mast, helping to keep the mast intact.

              If the boat crashes onto waves in heavy seas the mast will try to flex in the middle and it could break at that point. By supporting it with the baby stay it will minimise that flexing. The stay should be under some tension to pull the mast slightly forwards to get the best effect.

              If you only want to sail short distances and in good weather you might not want to fit one, but if you intend to go to sea, do reasonable mileage or go out (or get caught out) in heavy weather then yes you should fit one. Regards Geoff

              28th June 2010 at 6:59 pm #11852

                Hello Geoff. Re the rigging on my HT….The mast is only stayed in the middle across the boat, nothing angled fore and aft; one stay to the crosstrees and one to the masthead. I am now beginning to see that this might be a problem. Assuming I fit a babystay to deal with the front, how far aft would the extra stays need to go? Cheers….Iain

                29th June 2010 at 6:51 pm #11855

                  Hi Iain, Sorry but your description of the rig is still not clear. There should be 5 stays going to the mast head, 2 backstays, 2 side or cap shrouds and the forestay. below that and terminating at the root of the spreaders should be 2 aft lowers, (they will only angle slightly aft at the base). Then in addition you should have the baby or inner forestay. You may be missing all of the lower set or just the baby stay? Any queries just ask. Geoff

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