Why are these two fittings on my mast?

[esarratt]

While examining my mast today I noticed two places to attach sails/rigging right next to each other on the front of the mast.

Their location is basically identical which made me wonder, why put two attachment points there? Why not just one? The lower point has obviously not ever seen any use.

It is obvious that the PO did not have anything attached there and the boat only came with 3 sails; its a cutter rig.

Would this be a fitting that was not correctly hooked up? OR is it for a 4th sail?

Pics of a sister ship are included for clarity.

The boat was built as a cutter rig with a 6' long bowsprit if that helps.

Any ideas?

My last boat was a sloop-rigged catamaran. Cutter rigs are new to me.

[Rustic Charm]

I'm just guessing, but do they not hold your inner stay?

[Sailmonkey]

One for the stay
Another for the staysail halyard


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[HappyMdRSailor]

^^^^^^^

[cburger]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

One for the stay
Another for the staysail halyard


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Correct it would be an attachment point for a block that the staysail halyard would be run through.

[esarratt]

Originally Posted by cburger

Correct it would be an attachment point for a block that the staysail halyard would be run through.

Thanks!

[wolfesmy]

Spinnaker pole topping lift?

[rhirwin]

My guess is they are for running backstays when using the staysail. Under heavy weather conditions a staysail puts a forward & side strain on the mast that could bend it sufficiently to buckle it. The running backstays counter that force at the point on the mast where that force is applied (the attachment point of the staysail halyard). On a cutter rig you should also find the attachment points on both the port and starboard sides, many times a padeye.

[cburger]

Originally Posted by wolfesmy

Spinnaker pole topping lift?

Did you even look at the original post, a spinnaker pole at the top of the mast?

[cburger]

Originally Posted by rhirwin

My guess is they are for running backstays when using the staysail. Under heavy weather conditions a staysail puts a forward & side strain on the mast that could bend it sufficiently to buckle it. The running backstays counter that force at the point on the mast where that force is applied (the attachment point of the staysail halyard). On a cutter rig you should also find the attachment points on both the port and starboard sides, many times a padeye.

This statement is as the poster indicates, "A guess", running back stays do not attach to a single point on the front of the mast, did you even look at the picture that was posted before offering such advise?

The fitting is a combination attachment point for the forestay and below that a block for the staysail halyard, Moondance has the same type of fitting, my guess is the boat has been converted from hanked sails to roller furling, can't tell from the picture.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by rhirwin

My guess is they are for running backstays when using the staysail. Under heavy weather conditions a staysail puts a forward & side strain on the mast that could bend it sufficiently to buckle it. The running backstays counter that force at the point on the mast where that force is applied (the attachment point of the staysail halyard). On a cutter rig you should also find the attachment points on both the port and starboard sides, many times a padeye.

Not likely running backs. They would be attached on the aft side of the mast - not ahead. I vote for stay-upper, halyard block lower or topping lift for the pole.

[Roy M]

My running backs are positioned at the same place as the staysail stay, just like the photo shows. Cutter rigs are cool.

[gjordan]

I would be very surprised if running backs were attached to the front of the mast. They are normally attached to tangs on the side of the mast at the upper spreaders, or if no upper spreaders, they would have tangs at the same height as the inner forestay. From the photo, I would say that the fitting was for an inner forestay, but the OP describes the boat as a cutter rig already, so if it is below the inner forestay, it would be a pole lift. A few riggers do unconventional things, so who knows. _____Grant.

[Roy M]

Is there the slightest possibility that someone is looking at the picture backwards? My cutter uses the tang on the forward leading edge of the mast as the attachment for the running forestay (removeable) and the two tangs seen at ninety degrees with the swivel would lead aft to the running backstay tangs. It looks exactly typical if viewed in that perspective.

[Nicholson58]

My rig is cutter - ketch. Here are the running backs - heavy bar about 1" diameter through the mast for attachment on port & starboard. The SS eyes can swivel and the bar can rotate. 4-part blocks below.

I sure think the OP's photos are for a cutter stay & halyard block.