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.

 

[Birdseye]

But if you are adding quite a bit of sail area Ridgy, and all at the leach, you are likely to upset the balance of the boat by moving the centre of effort sternwards

 

[Ingwe]

But if you are adding quite a bit of sail area Ridgy, and all at the leach, you are likely to upset the balance of the boat by moving the centre of effort sternwards

It all depends how far forward the mast is. Almost all the sail area you add by going to a slightly fat headed main is right next to the mast because for rating reasons you're unlikely to be increasing the foot at the same time, so unless the mast is a long way back adding area there tends to be pretty neutral to balance.