Baby stay backing plates - good enough or fill n re-drill? 26s

[JamesToBoot]

Feeling better, so let's take on the next thing:

The last thread on the 26s pointed us towards checking out the baby stay attachment points... So here we are! How we handle these will be an indicator in how we handle the rest of the deck hardware (incl the forward cleat and padeyes also used in the mast raising system).

It appears that there are access holes drilled into the THICK liner with washers as backing plates for the baby stay padeyes used to steady the mast left/right while raising.


Should we leave our stock (do they appear stock to you) baby stay backing plates as is for our 30 yo project 26s?

or

Should we take them out, pump the area full of tiger hair, and re-drill to encompass the liner with an actual backing plate on the inside of the boat?

Or do you have a third idea?

Both sides look the same:

[Be Free]

Thinking out loud...
The boat is at least 30 years old and they have not failed yet so we know that the design works. On the other hand, the boat is at least 30 years old and this hardware has never been older than it is today. Stuff wears out, but has this particular stuff worn out?

Are the padeyes showing any signs of corrosion or damage?
Are there any signs of leaks or corrosion on nuts, bolts or washers?

My boat is a little newer (but not much) and I chose to leave everything as it was. If in the future I were to see actual problems in the baby stay connections on my boat I'd change them.

It does not look like it would be too hard to put in longer screws and a larger backing plate, but like I used to tell my boss, "Everything is easy for the guy who does not have to do it." If you decide to change anything make sure that you use the right materials for anything you replace or add.

It's your call, but without signs of corrosion or other problem I'd leave it alone. If you decide it needs fixing, a better backing plate looks like an easy upgrade.

[JamesToBoot]

Thinking out loud...
The boat is at least 30 years old and they have not failed yet so we know that the design works. On the other hand, the boat is at least 30 years old and this hardware has never been older than it is today. Stuff wears out, but has this particular stuff worn out?

Are the padeyes showing any signs of corrosion or damage?
Are there any signs of leaks or corrosion on nuts, bolts or washers?

My boat is a little newer (but not much) and I chose to leave everything as it was. If in the future I were to see actual problems in the baby stay connections on my boat I'd change them.

It does not look like it would be too hard to put in longer screws and a larger backing plate, but like I used to tell my boss, "Everything is easy for the guy who does not have to do it." If you decide to change anything make sure that you use the right materials for anything you replace or add.

It's your call, but without signs of corrosion or other problem I'd leave it alone. If you decide it needs fixing, a better backing plate looks like an easy upgrade.

Very good points sir. You got a chuckle out of me for that one.

Nope. No cracks anywhere around the padeyes. No rust. I think I will take your advice and leave it alone.

[JamesToBoot]

Raised the mast again today. Just for experience and to try the cleat on the mast as directed by the manual.

I used said baby stay padeyes again. No issues. No cracking sounds.

I did move the location where I attached the baby stays to the mast. Instead of using the glassed reinforced plastic thing that looks like where you might attach loose halyards or maybe a gen pole, I used the cleat about 5ft up the mast (wrapping the line through the center of the cleat and around the mast before tying it off at the same cleat).

I also used better knots on the padeyes.

The result seemed much more sturdy with less room for the mast to sway.

[Be Free]

You better watch out. If you're not careful you're going to get good at this!

[JamesToBoot]

We shall see, don't jinx it.

I would have to say, using the optional mast raising system (i think Ive seen some use the acronym mrs) as dictated in the manual is pretty awesome.

It makes things so much easier and slows down the process so you don't make mistakes or get stuck holding the mast while trying to untangle something.

I do not have this on the Precision 18 or a mast support... what a difference.

[Be Free]

I downloaded and read the manual for your boat earlier this evening. I think that the mast raising system (MRS) for your boat and the X are almost identical. The baby stays attach differently but in basically the same spot. The MRS itself (jin pole with block and tackle) connects a little differently but yours is clearly an early version of mine.

I very seldom have help when I'm raising my mast and I would not be able to do it safely without the MRS. For me, it takes all of the stress out of raising the mast. I have a rope clutch on my cabin top that I run the MRS line through so that I can easily stop at any point in the process and untangle a stay or shroud. You will need to come up with a way to tie off the line securely on your boat.

Do you have an adjustable back stay? If so, don't forget to loosen it before you raise or lower the mast. It makes it much easier to pin the forestay!

One other bit of advice (learned the hard way). If the MRS is having any trouble raising the mast something is wrong. Back off and figure out what it is. Whatever is keeping the mast from coming up is most likely important and almost certainly expensive!