Running Backstays with Rotating Mast

[baldbaby2000]

Leon,

I've attached a marked up photo with the backstay in the released position. Hope you can read it; my drawing is a little cheezy. The bungee goes through a cheap block (attached to the base of the stanchion forward of the cockpit) to give it more length so it can stretch enough. the carabiner is just clipped on the backstay so it can slide. The idea is to pull the backstay forward of the end of the boom so if you gybe or come about it won't get caught on the wrong side. The control line goes through a block and cam cleat attached to the base of the aft stachion. I got these from BWY.



Daniel

[Frank C]

That's a terrific idea Daniel~!
It automatically retracts your runner as you release the fiddle cleat. [thumbsUP]

[delevi]

Yeah, that is much smarter than my setup. I suppose you would need a lot of excess line and a pretty long bungee. Mine is set up for 4:1 so lots of line would be needed. My fiddle blocks also have jam cleats built in. They work nice except when you have to let a bunch of line out. The line will jam without human intervention... won't just run free.

I don't mind unhooking the lazy stay so much. What is a real pain is when it slides forward on the lifeline, it will often wrap around the shrouds and/or spreaders, requiring a trip to the deck to retrieve. I'm on my second configuration, but am now considering a third i.e. implementing your setup. Tired of buying blocks & line

[baldbaby2000]

Leon,

I also have 4:1 purchase. I thought the long lines would be annoying but they're manageable since the excess usually sits towards the rear of the cockpit and sometimes I stuff it under the cushion.

I don't know exactly how long the bungee is. It's tied at the genoa block, brought forward through a block and then back again to clip on the stay. That way I get more stretch out of it.

I'm still looking forward to seeing photos of your reefing system for your Quantum sail. We have some money coming back from our rental deposit and I think I can convince the Admiral into letting me get new sails!

Daniel

[delevi]

I'm still looking forward to seeing photos of your reefing system for your Quantum sail. We have some money coming back from our rental deposit and I think I can convince the Admiral into letting me get new sails!

Daniel,
Don, my Quantum sales rep emailed me a few weeks ago to see how I'm liking the sails. All good feedback, and I'm a tough customer. I asked if he still had the measurements for my boat and he does. He can make you the same setup, provided you want a 105 jib. Actually, with the measurements, he can probably make any size jib you want, but you really have to know the percentage of overlap. The 105 is pretty close to stock jib size. I haven't been to the boat in a while due to a heavy work load and recent rains. I'll get those pics next time I'm out there; would probably be a few weeks... ski trip planned for President's Day Weekend, which is also the Admiral's birthday. I have a small sample of the Fusion X (Dimension-Polyant) fabric. If you want it, you're welcome to it. Just PM me with your mailing address. By looking at the sample, I thought the sail would be tan in color. Also appears that way on the Quantum web site. Interestingly enough, the sails are quite white. Not as white as the stock Doyles but close. Another option is to have the sails made by a small loft. Apparently, anyone can get the Dimension cloth. The Fusion X is made exclusively for Quantum, but the difference is slim. When I first posted about the sails, someone on this board sent me a PM. He owns an independent sail loft and said he can make me the same sails for about 2/3 the cost. I still opted for Quantum, partly because I already put down a deposit, and partly because…. well it’s Quantum. Not sure if the later part is justifiable for the price difference… probably will never find out but that’s history now.

Leon

[baldbaby2000]

Leon,

Thanks for the info. I'll send you my snail mail address. I don't know enough about sails to know if going with Quantum is better than the independent sail loft guy. Yours work well and there's a lot to be said for that, but going with 2/3 the cost is appealing too. It's possible that the Quantum sail would have a different shape than the independent guy: perhaps better, perhaps worse; I don't know.

I have some other things on my list too so I may stay with my old sails for another season. The Admiral wants rear seats in the corners and I would like IDA rudders. The old saying is true, "a boat is a hole in the water you through money into!"

Daniel

[James V]

A bit off topic but there is a rope ssb antenna that can be bought shorter. Any thoughts if this would work as a running backstay?
http://www.ropeantenna.com/

[parrothead]

My "winter project" was designing a set of running backstays for our that will co-exist with our bimini. We launched Blue Heaven last week, and having the runnning backstays terminated at the stanchion bases by the winches works great. I got a shot of them "in action" today and have posted an item on the Mods page.