backstay tensioner

[marchhare]

I have a backstay tensioner that has two fold out handles which turns either clockwise or anticlockwise to adjust the tension. The problem is thet I am unsure on how much to ease off for fear of it unscrewing too far. Does the backstay come adrift is turned too much, cannot tell by looking because the working part is enclosed in a tube and there are no graduation or calibration marks. I would like to be able to slacken off the tension when not on the boat, any advice please.

 

[prv]

How about leading your main halyard to the stern and cranking it up hard to take the load off the backstay? Then you can unscrew all the way and see what happens without anything nasty happening. If it does go all the way and fall off, you can mark it to avoid unscrewing it so far in future.

If it's a fractional rig with swept-back spreaders, it's the cap shrouds that hold it up rather than the backstay anyway.

Pete

 

[sailorman]

it is unwise to leave the rig loose to flop about, keep some tension on it

 

[merlin3688]

Agree with Sailorman on keeping tension on the rig.
You may have an IYE adjuster, this may help http://www.wireropeassemblies.co.uk/item4f33.html?cat_id=38&prod_id=307&dep=1

 

[marchhare]

I think it is an IYE unit, I don't intend to let the rig "flop About", I just want to know if when the handles are turned does it come against an endstop or does the backstay disconnect. Thanks for the replies.

 

[sailorman]

I have a backstay tensioner that has two fold out handles which turns either clockwise or anticlockwise to adjust the tension. The problem is thet I am unsure on how much to ease off for fear of it unscrewing too far. Does the backstay come adrift is turned too much, cannot tell by looking because the working part is enclosed in a tube and there are no graduation or calibration marks. I would like to be able to slacken off the tension when not on the boat, any advice please.

 

[onesea]

I think the OP means just reduce the tension so that the wires are just taught rather under significant tension. I do it when I leave the boat runners slack and backstay just hand tight. Not slopping around just not under masses of tension...

 

[wklein]

I am pretty confident that the tensioner will not come apart if unwound too much. Ditto about not letting it go too slack. Can you give us any more details about the rig? (swept spreaders?, masthead?)

 

[sailorman]

Starlight 35 (2000) Hull 99

I am pretty confident that the tensioner will not come apart if unwound too much. Ditto about not letting it go too slack. Can you give us any more details about the rig? (swept spreaders?, masthead?)

 

[wklein]

I guess i'll do the legwork myself

Looks like masthead with in-line spreaders, backstay pretty important, i would not slacken it off much at all. Maye leave 1/3 of a chord in at the dock.

Lovely boats by the way, if i was going to get a boat of this type the starlight would e right up the wishlist.

 

[charles_reed]

I have a backstay tensioner that has two fold out handles which turns either clockwise or anticlockwise to adjust the tension. The problem is thet I am unsure on how much to ease off for fear of it unscrewing too far. Does the backstay come adrift is turned too much, cannot tell by looking because the working part is enclosed in a tube and there are no graduation or calibration marks. I would like to be able to slacken off the tension when not on the boat, any advice please.

Mine definitely comes apart if I unscrew too far.

 

[wotayottie]

I think it is an IYE unit, I don't intend to let the rig "flop About", I just want to know if when the handles are turned does it come against an endstop or does the backstay disconnect. Thanks for the replies.

No. It should not come apart if you just unwind. It should hit a stop. However, there is a caveat. Its integrity depends on some threaded connections remaining tight and if it has been tinkered with it is possible for these to come undone. It might also be possible if the unit has become very stiff so that using it unwinds the screwed bits.

There is a man who will service these tensioners but the cost is a high ( IMO) £100 or more. He justifies this on the basis that he has had no problems with them failing in use.

Mine definitely comes apart if I unscrew too far.

Charles. I suppose it might be possible that we are talking two different design units here, but if not then yours should not come apart under normal use and there is something wrong. I have had mine to bits to service it and this required breaking the two threaded connections which are secured with loctite to prevent any movement in normal use.

 

[charles_reed]

<<Charles. I suppose it might be possible that we are talking two different design units here, but if not then yours should not come apart under normal use and there is something wrong. I have had mine to bits to service it and this required breaking the two threaded connections which are secured with loctite to prevent any movement in normal use.>>

Mine is an IYE unit, at least 23 years old - it has a pair of welded nuts at each end, and the male part has a shaped handle which is intended to clip over the double nuts at each end.
As I have said, whether it's supposed to or not, it unscrews and comes apart quite easily.
It's quite likely that the unit is a prototype fabrication as Bill Parker was a great one for using old stock when building a prototype boat.