slack bobstay

[ChattingLil]

we have a 4' wooden bowsprit on 40' steel ketch. She is fully rigged, though not sailed often. I noticed last night that the p/s bobstay (wire) is quite slack. Not sure how long it's been like that, but suspect I would have noticed it before if it's been a while. We did snag it when anchoring once, but didn't notice anything untoward at the time.

We are sitting in a marina berth, the wind wasn't strong so don't think I can blame strain on the mast or rigging.

Should I just tension it til it feels right? Would the balance/tension of the rest of the rig affect the bobstay? Should I have the whole lot checked?

I've never had a bowsprit/bobstay before so another new learning curve.

 

[Tranona]

Normally you would expect the bobstay to be tight - there is often a means of adjusting it, either a tackle or a bottle screw. The purpose of the stay is to balance the load on the forestay and stop the bowsprit from bending upwards and resulting in a slack forestay. Particularly important to keep it tight if the forestay is holding the mast up, arguably less critical if there is an inner forestay terminating on deck.

 

[Hadenough]

Do you have a triatic? Maybe it needs some tension?

 

[ChattingLil]

Do you have a triatic? Maybe it needs some tension?

Is the triatic the stay between the masts? If so, then no, don't have that.

It is cutter-rigged. The head sail goes out to the end of the bowsprit and the inner one goes to the bow.

 

[dombuckley]

Hi Lisa

Ocean Lady's bow is in the background of a few photos I took in Fox's last year - and there's certainly no visible drooping in the bobstay. Something has obviously slackened off in that time. Unlikely to be the bobstay itself, so tightening that up will be treating the symptoms rather than the cause. It may be that someone has hit your bowsprit, causing it to shift slightly: check the fastening arrangements at the inner end. Alternatively, the forestay could be damaged under the roller reefing gear, causing a loss of tension: this will need a trip up the mast to check for any splaying or broken wires around the top bearing.

 

[ChattingLil]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply Dom... must helpful. Will investigate further. Always something! But we are slowly getting there.