Unstayed rigs

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truantagain

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Hi all

Just in the process of looking at a Freedom and wanted some comments on the unstayed rig.

I am wondering how it would cope in a strong wind and also what the potential drawbacks are?

Of course the advantages seem to be nice clear decks.

Thanks for the comments.

truantagain
 
Never had one but I don't think an unstayed rig can be tuned in any way, so ones not going to win any races.........but must confess the lack of clutter has a cruising upside.

All I've read is the Freedom mast design is such that excessive pressure causes it to lay off at the top, automatically depowering the rig in a gust or blow.

Regards
JOHN
 
There are many types of unstayed rig. Generally speaking they lower the centre of gravity so improving stability. The absence of stays means you are free from the need to replace standing rigging and the risk of dismasting if a stay or attachment fails. I understand that the aluminium masted freedoms have been known to fail but the carbon version is pretty well bulletproof.

Having no stays to grab as you board or walk forward may seem a disadvantage but you soon get used to it.

One of the greatest advantages of unstayed rigs is the 360° rotation which allows you to let the main weathercock even with the wind from aft - I don't think the Freedom lets you do that, at least in some versions.
 
Thanks for the information. I feel a bit better now!

My initial fear was that theyw ould be much more susceptible to dis-masting. I'll keep you posted on the buying process.

Regards

truantagain
 
The absence of stays always makes people think the mast(s) will go over the side at the first fresh breeze. A little thought about the physics of the structure will reassure you.

A conventional rig relies on the tension of the shrouds being opposed by the thrust of the mast. The opposing forces are as little as 5ft apart and are trying to pull the topsides or bulkheads out of the hull and drive the heel of the mast through the keel.

With an unstayed rig the loads are of much the same size but are acting sideways on the deck and keel so with a couple of decent deck beams the structure can easily take the load.

On my cat with a beam of 23 ft, the side thrust at the heel of the mast at the point where a hull starts to fly is only 7 tons. For a GRP structure that's peanuts.

The mast itself is more than capable of handling the loads - consider a carbon fishing rod or the bowsprit of an asymmetric spinnaker on a racing boat.
 
Which model freedom ? The 30footer with jib is very nice,if you can find one,25 with spinaker pole on the pullpit is light quick and clever.
The ketches only criticism ;the double sided sail takes a little more effort to raise and lower as it wraps around the mast .Beautiful boats .
Unstayed rigs dont howl at you in a stiff breeze,cos theres no standing wire rigging .
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi all

Just in the process of looking at a Freedom and wanted some comments on the unstayed rig.

I am wondering how it would cope in a strong wind and also what the potential drawbacks are?

Of course the advantages seem to be nice clear decks.

Thanks for the comments.

truantagain

[/ QUOTE ]There is a half-mad (half?) aussie at Treguier, he has an unstayed mast and junk rig. reckons he can face ANYTHING, and has already faced pretty rough stuff. He's a live-aboard, been round the block a couple of times... Never had a sail with him, so don't know how it feels. Doesn't go to ww too well, apparently.
 
we owned a freedom 35 cat ketch for several years and found the rig superb- quieter under sail and when moored , great visibility forward (no overlapping genny) , and very acceptable performance- the downsides were as mentioned- heavy to hoist the sails (several owners have changed to electric winch) , compared to lazyjacks on our current boat - harder to stow sails , our research made us ensure we only bought a 35 with the carbon fibre masts as there are reportadly some instances of the aluminium masts failing but none reported of carbons failing,

what model are you looking at?
 
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