cascade back stay system

SeanR · Post by **SeanR** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:30 pm

I've been digging around on the site for a picture of the cascading backstay and cannot find one. Does anyone have one they can email me? Since you all have had yours set up for a year or so now, do you have any suggestions to make it better than what is currently posted?

SeanR

BarryE · Post by **BarryE** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:12 am

I've got some pix around somewhere; If I can find them I'll PM them to you.

Post by **Tim Bosma** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:29 pm

The only addition I did to ours was to add a 2' cover sleeve in the area where the top main batten rubs during a tack.

dave · Post by **dave** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:33 am

Tim, one could also use a short section of heat shrink tubing up there. The stuff is very tuff!

BarryE · Post by **BarryE** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:04 pm

I got mine through Layline; Henry was most helpful, knew exactly what I needed; including a cover over the line where it rubs.
The whip at the top came from Melges; a stock replacement for the Melges 24; its on their website.

SeanR · Post by **SeanR** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:04 pm

Talked with Henry today and he's work up a quote and matl list that I'll share. He asked about the length and location of the cover. He mentioned something like 10-15' long. I thought this was a bit much, but I don't have my new main yet. Any comments on the cover length ( I know Tim said 2') and the location down from the crane?

Sailher · Post by **Sailher** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:30 pm

SeanR wrote:Talked with Henry today and he's work up a quote and matl list that I'll share.

Any info to share? From what I've seen, the primary block isn't strong enough. If the strength of the 3/16 amsteel is 4900 lbs, I would expect the primary block to be at that strength.

orion27 · Post by **orion27** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:57 am

The primary block is an Harken 308 wire block rated at about 4000lbs.
Doubt you will be hanging a car off your backstay. The 308 is a ball bearing
wire block and is more than adequate for this application. The secondary block is a ball bearing Harken 304 wire block, again more than adequate for the application. My cover splice is at least 48" but I will measure it. Have pictures upon request.

orion27 · Post by **orion27** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:53 am

Actually the Harken 308 and 304 were recommended by Henry at Layline.
I will be posting the URL to my website shortly where I will have a page devoted to 7.9 stuff. Those interested can request photos of anything related to 7.9 which I will then post to the site. Let me know. Look for the URL this evening.

SeanR · Post by **SeanR** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:28 am

As a substitute to the H308 you can use a H6065 and as a substitute to the H304 you can use a H2650. From there the loads are small enough to use 29 carbo's. The upper section was 28'9" (3/16") Validator 12 stripped with a 16' cover starting at the mast head crane. The next section is 10' (3/16") V12. The final is 7' (3/16") V12. I ended up shorting the 10' section to 9' for extra purchase, however I cannot completely relax the backstay. This works great! Used 29 carbo cheeks to run up beside the traveller cams.

SeanR