Disconnect backstay for liftout ?

[Pirx]

We are arranging for our Moody 31 to be lifted out for the winter. This is the first time for us to come out at this marina and we are told to let off the backstay before the lift.

I'm confused by this. Any thoughts as to why ?

 

[Malish]

ease the backstay maybe, but not disconnect unless you are confident that the mast will stand without it (I wouldn't be... thats what the hoist crew are for)

 

[ithet]

You have to do this where a fixed crane has an arm or the cross member of a travelhoist will catch.

 

[ithet]

ease the backstay maybe, but not disconnect unless you are confident that the mast will stand without it (I wouldn't be... thats what the hoist crew are for)

I have to completely disconnect the backstay where I lift, and ease the topping lift. Bit I have swept back spreaders
For an M31 I would take the main halyard tight to the toerail.

 

[MoodySabre]

We used to do this with are old Snappy but my Moody 31 was craned in when we bought it without slackening the backstay. I assume there is a cross member that needs to be accommodated. They should know what they are doing but you could drop the boom and take the main halyard and the topping lift to the toe rails half way along the cockpit.

 

[Tranona]

No problem disconnecting the backstay for the lift. Done it for years in a yard I use that lifts with a crane and spreader frame.

 

[vyv_cox]

We used to detach our backstay because the hoist was relatively small. The topping lift and mainsheet were sufficient to hold the mast up for the short time needed.

 

[dunedin]

No problem disconnecting the backstay for the lift. Done it for years in a yard I use that lifts with a crane and spreader frame.

That does somewhat depend on the boat, and where the main shrouds are. Most boats might be OK, but not all where deck stepped and shrouds near in line with mast.

 

[srm]

If you have fore and aft lower shrouds, or aft lower shrouds and a baby stay the mast will stand quite safely without back or fore stays, or cap shrouds. We used to remove and restep the masts for winter lift outs so I have demonstrated this umpteen times on a number of boats.

The reason for dropping your backstays will be the design of the travelift. I have to drop my forestay here.

 

[Tranona]

Never had a problem with my Eventide with masthead rig and in line shrouds similar to the OPs Moody.

 

[Pirx]

Thank you everyone: it is a large shore crane with a spreader, should have been obvious (!) but we have been used to travelling hoists in the past.

 

[oldharry]

A conventional 8 shroud masthead rig with lower inner stays can have any one or even two masthead wires detached safely during lifting or maintenenace. The heavy loading only comes when the sails are up or if the boat is bouncing around in a rough sea. The two lower aft inners will be more than enough to hold the mast secure during the lift.

Busy boatyards are lifting boats many times a week, and will know from both training and experience what is safe. Its highly improbably they would ask for this if they thought it was risky, as it would be their liability and reputation that falls with the mast! Double check with the yard foreman, and get him to explain on your boat if you are still worried.

 

[dunedin]

A conventional 8 shroud masthead rig with lower inner stays ....

That's a huge assumption though that this is a "conventional" rig.
Yes was often fitted on old British boats, but not necessarily the norm then or especially now.

We have two shrouds per side both to the same place (total 4 shrouds at deck level, ignoring upper diagonals).

Sounds perhaps that the OP is using a Baltic style crane?

 

[DownWest]

Local crane at Rochefort requires this. If the mast is not supported by aft swept lower shrouds,(or uppers) then some sort of jury rig works with halyards.

 

[oldharry]

That's a huge assumption though that this is a "conventional" rig.
Yes was often fitted on old British boats, but not necessarily the norm then or especially now.

We have two shrouds per side both to the same place (total 4 shrouds at deck level, ignoring upper diagonals).

Sounds perhaps that the OP is using a Baltic style crane?

Thats why I specified 'conventional 8 shroud.' I'm well aware there are many variants. But as I said, the Yard Foreman is supposed to know his job, and he is the one to ask if there is any doubt.

 

[dunedin]

Thats why I specified 'conventional 8 shroud.' I'm well aware there are many variants. But as I said, the Yard Foreman is supposed to know his job, and he is the one to ask if there is any doubt.

PS Just for my understanding, what are the 8 shrouds? I have seen 2 shrouds (like a dinghy), 4 shrouds (caps and lowers) and 6 shrouds (caps, forward and aft lowers), but not seen 8 to date.

 

[mattonthesea]

PS Just for my understanding, what are the 8 shrouds? I have seen 2 shrouds (like a dinghy), 4 shrouds (caps and lowers) and 6 shrouds (caps, forward and aft lowers), but not seen 8 to date.

I think the forestay and backstay may be the seventh and eighth?

 

[DownWest]

The OP's boat has for and aft lower shrouds, so should not be a problem.