Retrofit backstay flicker

[ridgy]

Been watching Refit and Sail on YT, the chap is refitting his SJ320. One of the things he has done is add a backstay flicker. I didn't realise these could be added to boats not originally designed for them.

In conjunction with a longer boom it would allow me to get a bigger main...is there any downside to them? They seem to be standard fit on new sporty boats so I guess not.

 

[flaming]

Been watching Refit and Sail on YT, the chap is refitting his SJ320. One of the things he has done is add a backstay flicker. I didn't realise these could be added to boats not originally designed for them.

In conjunction with a longer boom it would allow me to get a bigger main...is there any downside to them? They seem to be standard fit on new sporty boats so I guess not.

No real downside that I can see if you're already running a soft backstay.

 

[ridgy]

Do they ever break?

 

[Ingwe]

Do they ever break?

It's a fibreglass rod that you are constatntly bending up and down so would eventually suffer from fatigue and break - having said that I have never broken one and would imagine as long as you check it once a year for signs of fatigue you would be unlucky for one to suddenly go.

 

[flaming]

It’s also not going to threaten the integrity of the mast if it does go.