Removeable inner forestay

[weaver_fish]

Has anyone recently fitted a removable inner forestay to their boat? Looking at my 26fter (7/8th fractional) and thinking of fitting a removable stay so I can keep the racing genoa furled and hoist the smaller jib when sailing with kids / in very strong winds.

Any issues I should consider? I will want to have it removed and back at the mast most of the time, so I guess some kind of tensioning fitting will be needed.

Any ideas of costs too?

 

[Danny]

Not recently - but I fitted one some years ago. Main issue I had was to find a suitable anchor point on the foredeck. I used a U bolt at the point on the foredeck where there was a bulkhead for the anchor locker. I reinforced this area with mild steel angle bedded into fibreglass to spread the load.

I used a lever-type tensioner (Highfield lever) and pelican hook to attach the stay.

This system provided adequate tension and no distortion of the foredeck.

How will you arrange for a halyard?

 

[TonyMills]

PBO did an article on storm sails and discussed the inner forestay to carry these sails. It provided advice about ensuring that the inner stay should be parallel with the forestay and in a line from the back stay fitting on the mast. With a Fractional rig this would not apply but care would have to be taken that the forestay is properly supported or you could lose the rig.

I'm looking at fitting one, but I have a masthead rig. I'd prefer it about 6ft from the top of the mast, but to do that either means fitting additional upper spreaders swept forward or perhaps a removable backstay as support.

The deck fitting needs to be properly built and strengthened and for ease of fitting and removal use a highfield lever.

Regards
TonyM

 

[bryantee]

Seateach and coates marine do kits. Cotes marine has a fact sheet on how to do it on a mast head rig.
www.coatesmarine.demon.co.uk
sheet 18 & !9

 

[KenMcCulloch]

[ QUOTE ]

I'm looking at fitting one, but I have a masthead rig. I'd prefer it about 6ft from the top of the mast, but to do that either means fitting additional upper spreaders swept forward or perhaps a removable backstay as support.

The deck fitting needs to be properly built and strengthened and for ease of fitting and removal use a highfield lever.

Regards
TonyM

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to sail a Rival 34 (masthead sloop) whch had a removable inner forestay going to about 7/8 height. It was tensioned with one of those screw-type backstay adjusters and supported by running backstays that could be taken right to the shrouds and secured when not required. Worked well the one time I had it in action.

 

[pappaecho]

Our E32 had a inner forestay/baby stay. On stripping the forecabin headlining we found a 10 inch horizontal crack in the grp, which was not obvious from the deck.
If you fit an inner forestay make sure that it is very well reinforced - then double it.
We have since fitted a second main forestay outside the roller reefing system, and from which we can fly hanked on sails, from big to storm jib, which may be an alternative

 

[Danny]

[ QUOTE ]
If you fit an inner forestay make sure that it is very well reinforced - then double it.

[/ QUOTE ]One way to do this, if the foredeck attachment point is forward of the cabin/chain locker bulkhead, is to have a few links of chain, and maybe a turnbuckle, taking the load (in as near a straight line as possible) from the deck attachment U bolt (via another U bolt underneath) down to the stemhead. That way the deck takes no strain at all. Possible problems to consider are whether this will foul the anchor rode in the locker and whether you can find or create an adequate attachment to the stemhead.

 

[Danny]

[ QUOTE ]
We have since fitted a second main forestay outside the roller reefing system, and from which we can fly hanked on sails, from big to storm jib, which may be an alternative

[/ QUOTE ]I guess that's got to be the best solution structurally but how do you get around the problem of changing tack? Or don't you?

 

[Dalliance]

I've got one and it is does add great flexibility but I wouldn't use it without the running backstays to support the mast at the head of the inner forestay. The clumsy part is stowing the running backstays adequately when the inner forestay isn't in use.