Longitudinal stay length

[abruzzi]

So, either my backstay is too short or my forestay is too short. I put the mast up this weekend, and with the rear adjuster at full extension, and the front turn buckle all the way out, my forestay didn't quite reach (about 5 inches shy of the front chainplate.). Since BWYachts says they need my old one to make a new one, and I haven't seen exact measurements, I have no idea which one is too short. Is there any way to tell?

Geof

[Freedom77]

Maybe BWY could tell you what the proper length is. Is this the first time you've set up the mast? Sounds to me like something is missing on the backstay. Are you running the backstay over the stern pulpit or under? If you don't try to connect the backstay with the forestay will it reach to fore chainplate? Are the shroud adjusters properly set? Assuming you have a stock fractional rig, Base of mast to top of forestay, "I" dimension is 22 ft +/-.base of mast to fore chainplate "J" dimension is 10 ft +/-. Forestay length S/B approx 24.5 ft with allowance for turnbuckle and mast bale. Measure what you have now and see how close you get. Maybe attach a tape measure to the top forestay bolt, raise the mast and measure to the fore chainplate. Let us know how you make out. Hope this helps. Good luck. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

[Hamin' X]

Make sure that you don't have a twist, or kink in the stay. Sometimes a thimble gets twisted on the mast hound. It is hard to see from the deck.

~Rich

[Freedom77]

Hammin X. Great advise. Fair winds and full sails...Old Salt

[Tomfoolery]

Which one is right when the shrouds are snug? That's the one that's probably right.

You can check mast rake to be sure (which you should do anyway, since the shrouds might not be adjusted quite right).

[abruzzi]

The shrouds are a little sloppy when the rear is connected (though at full extension on the adjuster.) The front is about 6 inches from the chainplate. I don't know if the shrouds are correctly adjusted, but the eyelets are not bound or twisted, so there is o loss of length there.

Geof

[Tomfoolery]

The shrouds are a little sloppy when the rear is connected (though at full extension on the adjuster.) The front is about 6 inches from the chainplate.

If it were me, my next move would be to disconnect the backstay, and tilt it forward against the shrouds. You should be able to connect the forestay, maybe with some help from whatever you're using to pull the mast up (gin pole). If the fit is good or pretty good, my guess would have to be there's something missing from the backstay, like an extension or turnbuckle.

The acid test, of course, is mast rake. You need to level the boat to check that, which shouldn't be a problem if it's on its trailer. I don't know how much rake it should have, but I'm sure someone here does.

[abruzzi]

One more quick related question--about the forestay. Does the forestay turnbuckle connect directly to the chainplate, or is there supposed to be a slider/adjuster between the turnbuckle and the chainplate? I have nothing between the two, so I assumed there was not supposed to be nothing.

Geof

[Freedom77]

HI Abruzzi: Turnbuckle attached directly to chainplate, nothing in between. Were you able to get you problem solved on the forestay and backstay lengths. Sounds like PO might have adjust chainplates too short and therefore forestay won't reach. Also maybe part of backstay is missing, perhaps adjuster. ..Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt

[abruzzi]

Chainplates are adjustable? Or do you mean the two piece pin adjustment thingy? I'll try to snag some pics and post them. I'm not there yet. I saw bwyachts sells a replacement backstay with 4:1 blocks for tension adjustment. That should give me enough adjustment no matter what, but concern would be that if the forestay is the short one, I would be angling the mast forward from where it is supposed to be. I'm not even sure if the mast is supposed to be perfectly vertical, or if it cants backwards at all.

Geof

[Freedom77]

HI Abruzzi: Thingy's your asking about are not turnbuckles, but adjusters. Sorry for the bad nomenclature. If their adjusted to much the mast will rake back. Ideally you should set the mast about vertical to the waterline. Then you can rake it for optimum performance. Backstay adjuster is a good idea. Suggest you let out shroud adjusters until you can attach forestay to chainplate. Then let out more if you need to. Did you ever figure out how long you forestay is. As I mentioned it should be about 24 1/2 ft long +/-. Keep us all posted. Fair Winds and full Sails....Old Salt...