Steps for Shortening Fixed Backstay? help me out?

[sharpey]

Hey Folks,

We changed the rigging on our (new to us in 2012) Moody 376 sometime earlier this year, and after having had a rigger out to tune it, it would seem the backstay is about 3-4" too long... We fitted sta-locks to all the new rigging, so chopping it shouldn't be a big issue.

We've maxed out the rear turnbuckle, and the forestay is a fixed length.

Is it feasible to remove the backstay temporarily to shorten it without having to step the mast? Would it be safe enough to run the main halyard to the stern, and perhaps have the mainsheet and topping lift taught as a backup.

Do you reckon this would be enough to keep the rig up when the person (likely big me) up the mast has to come back down, and then hold things in place till I get the shortened stay back in place? Or is this just asking for trouble?

Mast is deck-stepped btw, and has lower stays aft, and a baby stay up front.

Cheers,

James

[stillbuilding]

Sure, can remove backstay if you have aft lowers. Done it a month ago.

[robert sailor]

Your good to go, no problems

[Matt Johnson]

Got a Moody 376 right next to me... very nice rig!

Removing the backstay wont be a problem with using the halyard as a temp support (while you climb the mast). Just make sure you don't reuse the wedge cone for the mechanical fitting like I have seen a lot of people do.

[roverhi]

Have removed both the forestay and backstay a number of times using a halyard to stabilize the mast. Haven't done both at the same time, though.

[Adelie]

Main halyard and topping lift/mainsheet backup should each be sufficient.

Why go up the mast?

Disconnect the backstay at the deck, walk forward to the base of the mast where you should now have enough slack to cut the terminal off and re-install it 3-4" higher on the same wire. Or am I missing something?

[sharpey]

The only bit you're missing Adelie is my lack of faith in my own abilities to cut the wire and re-attach... Thinking about it, this would be by far the most sensible way to do it though.

I will have a word with my rigger to see if this is something that can be done without machinery...

Thanks for the replies folks

James

[roverhi]

After reading Adelie's post, I went dummy, RTFQ. Just shortened the backstay in place when I added a backstay adjuster that was longer than the original turnbuckle. Cut the stay with a hack saw. Used a small hose clamp on the wire just above the cut. Makes it a lot easier to cut because the strands of the wire stay gathered together. Thought it might be awkward to fit the Norseman but it went together without a hitch. Twenty minutes and stay was back in place with the not so shiny new/old adjuster, without having to climb the mast.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by sharpey

The only bit you're missing Adelie is my lack of faith in my own abilities to cut the wire and re-attach... Thinking about it, this would be by far the most sensible way to do it though.

I will have a word with my rigger to see if this is something that can be done without machinery...

Thanks for the replies folks

James

You are going to run the moderate risk (lowish probability, high cost) of going up the mast to alleviate concerns about screwing up the install.

Buy an extra former or 2 (couple bucks each) and a scrap piece of wire. Set up at the goose neck and practice there. The fitting, except for the formers, is reusable if I recall correctly.

If you can't get it right in 2 tries, time to call in a rigger and watch them do it to learn what you are doing wrong and they will just do it at the bottom of the mast anyway, less risk and hassle.

If you do good practice runs but flub the actual install then you can play monkey-man.

If you think you need practice going up the mast, doing so with the backstay in place is probably a better idea.