Cutter Rig
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windrose
- Candidate for Boat-Obsession Medal
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- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 8:50 am
- Location: Shady Side, MD
Cutter Rig
Tim, I have the set up you have mentioned.... I have a new mast head rig that has running baby backs and a hydraulic back stay tensioner. I do not plan to race the boat, except maybe here in the Good Old Boat Regatta for fun, I plan to cruise pretty extensively.... and I want all the systems simplified and the poop deck cleaned up for a propane locker and solar panels. What are your thoughts on taking one of the baby backs and converting it to a fore stay for a cutter rig. Is this a crazy idea? Thanks. Ang
s/v Wind-rose
Pearson Triton #215
West River, Chesapeake Bay
Pearson Triton #215
West River, Chesapeake Bay
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Tim
- Shipwright Extraordinaire
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- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2003 6:39 pm
- Boat Name: Glissando
- Boat Type: Pearson Triton
- Location: Whitefield, ME
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I don't know anything about your rig, but in general any inner forestay setup needs to be opposed by additional stays, usually running backstays. This applies when the inner forestay attaches to the mast somewhere other than the masthead. That means that you'd need a pair of runners, one for each tack, so I don't know why you'd steal one of them to make a new headstay. Running backs on cruising boats are almost always there just for this purpose, and are not generally needed for moderate air sailing or strictly for mast support--just to help support the area of the column to which the inner forestay is attached, and even then mostly for heavy weather, considering that the staysail, set on the inner stay, would be most cutters' choice for high wind sailing with the resultant forces.
The wire used for most runners is generally not directly swappable for what you might choose for an inner forestay. Runners tend to be more flexible and lighter weight. Lately, they're often made of spectra.
Runners are one additional hassle to deal with when tacking and should be avoided whenever necessary. Hot race boats with needle-thin spars need the runners to keep the mast in column at all times, and also for sail shape control, but most cruising boat spars are significantely larger in section and don't strictly need such support. (At least up to a certain size)
The wire used for most runners is generally not directly swappable for what you might choose for an inner forestay. Runners tend to be more flexible and lighter weight. Lately, they're often made of spectra.
Runners are one additional hassle to deal with when tacking and should be avoided whenever necessary. Hot race boats with needle-thin spars need the runners to keep the mast in column at all times, and also for sail shape control, but most cruising boat spars are significantely larger in section and don't strictly need such support. (At least up to a certain size)
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windrose
- Candidate for Boat-Obsession Medal
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 8:50 am
- Location: Shady Side, MD
Good enough, they are coming off.... I don't want anything on the boat where it takes two people to tack the boat. Thanks for all your advice. Ang
Guess all this dang sitting in traffic is taking it's toll on me.... I get these crazy hair-brained ideas!
The cutter idea has not necessarily left me....
Guess all this dang sitting in traffic is taking it's toll on me.... I get these crazy hair-brained ideas!
The cutter idea has not necessarily left me....
s/v Wind-rose
Pearson Triton #215
West River, Chesapeake Bay
Pearson Triton #215
West River, Chesapeake Bay