Do I Need a Backstay Tensioner ?

[akio.kanemoto]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I was on a boat last night with a screw type adjuster. instead of a wheel to wind it there was 2 neat folding handles flush against the backstay. Fine idea and would have to be on the more inexpensive end of the scale.

Hi Mark,

Actually - believe it or not - they're about the same price as the hydraulic ones.. just a couple of hundred cheaper.

They don't look very convenient though - so do people constantly adjust these handle versions as well or just "set and forget"? Looks like.... work (!)

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by akio.kanemoto

- so do people constantly adjust these handle versions as well or just "set and forget"? Looks like.... work (!)

10 knots 6 winds to loosen it off. 18 knots 6 winds back on. 25 knots wind it like buggery .....

In the trade winds: set in Panama, ease in Sydney

Even racing boats dont adjust them at each mark (or they didnt when I raced....) Whats your job onboard? "Screwer. Skipper yells 'SCREW' I screw. Skipper yells: 'UNSCREW' I unscrew.... then I go sit on the high side and get mah feet wet. I'm trying for the Olympics next year."

[akio.kanemoto]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

10 knots 6 winds to loosen it off. 18 knots 6 winds back on. 25 knots wind it like buggery .....

In the trade winds: set in Panama, ease in Sydney

Even racing boats dont adjust them at each mark (or they didnt when I raced....) Whats your job onboard? "Screwer. Skipper yells 'SCREW' I screw. Skipper yells: 'UNSCREW' I unscrew.... then I go sit on the high side and get mah feet wet. I'm trying for the Olympics next year."

ROFLMAO!!!!

Perhaps I should get one and try for the next olympics myself! Could really make a career of this!

[Stillraining]

Pay no never mind...Marks a little screwed up..

[highseas]

May as well hook it up to NMEA and have it adjust automatically.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

10 knots 6 winds to loosen it off. 18 knots 6 winds back on. 25 knots wind it like buggery .....

In the trade winds: set in Panama, ease in Sydney

Even racing boats dont adjust them at each mark (or they didnt when I raced....) Whats your job onboard? "Screwer. Skipper yells 'SCREW' I screw. Skipper yells: 'UNSCREW' I unscrew.... then I go sit on the high side and get mah feet wet. I'm trying for the Olympics next year."

Not trying to be argumentative but we did...

Approaching the bottom mark

jib up, vang on, outhaul the main, Main halyard (if it was eased), backstay on...

<2 lengths - spin drop, pole stowed, round the mark, meat on rail...

1st tack on the beat, fine tune the trim, complain about boat speed, fine tune the trim, complain about boat speed, repeat...

For cruising I'd be going with the Panama-Sydney method...

[wolfenzee]

then maybe it wasn't a J-27 I do know, it was about that big an is a $100,000 racing boat. My way if thinking BTW is just this back stay tensioners are for racing boats and racing "style" cruising boat (ie cruising boats that have racing equipment added on whose main function is found in the show room)

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

For cruising I'd be going with the Panama-Sydney method...

For cruising I would too - or at least set for the day and forget unless the weather changes.

But on a race boat it's very different. On the boat I race on, I'm the main trimmer and there is a pump on each side of the boat for the backstay - I use it constantly upwind. It controls the power in the main and the entry of the jib.... and so heel and helm. It's a very quick and easy way to flatten out for the puffs and keep height and boatspeed.

puff coming in.....pump backstay....still to much helm?.....down travellor....still too much helm?......ease sheet.

light patch....ease backstay.....need more drive?....up travellor....still need more drive?......ease sheet and check outhaul/cunningham

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Not trying to be argumentative but we did...

Approaching the bottom mark

jib up, vang on, outhaul the main, Main halyard (if it was eased), backstay on...

<2 lengths - spin drop, pole stowed, round the mark, meat on rail...

1st tack on the beat, fine tune the trim, complain about boat speed, fine tune the trim, complain about boat speed, repeat...

For cruising I'd be going with the Panama-Sydney method...

Same for me racing - tactician worked the backstay.

On my HR 40 the backstay adjustment happens with major wind shifts and wind speed changes. It makes a huge difference in pointing upwind and power downwind.