Finally having a serious debate on going to a new backstay system. Given that the 7.9 has had such immense success largely because people have resisted the temptation to mess with the boat, we never take these decisions to deviate from the OEM setup lightly.
For those of you who have gone to a different system, it would be great to hear some feedback on the performance of your news system versus the old OEM setup.
The goal is to be able to achieve more backstay tension than currently available with the sliding pinch OEM setup that always seems to just run out of steam when you really need that extra inch. Thoughts ???
Question for upgraded backstay converts - are you happy ?
Moderators: sderby, Tim Bosma, Tom Elsen
I've continued to work on my flicker / purchase arrangement to try to get it "just right".
My only complaint now is that my current batten isn't stiff enough to pull all the slack back out of the line, but I'll sort that out eventually.
I didn't just do it for the increased purchase either. A short list of reasons why I like it:
1. Replacing the line is far easier than replacing the wire.
2. Replacing the line if far cheaper than replacing wire.
3. It's much easier to store than the wire when transporting (not much chance of kinking the line).
4. It gives you increased purchase.
5. In light and medium air when I'm not using much backstay, the mainsail never hangs up anymore.
My only complaint now is that my current batten isn't stiff enough to pull all the slack back out of the line, but I'll sort that out eventually.
I didn't just do it for the increased purchase either. A short list of reasons why I like it:
1. Replacing the line is far easier than replacing the wire.
2. Replacing the line if far cheaper than replacing wire.
3. It's much easier to store than the wire when transporting (not much chance of kinking the line).
4. It gives you increased purchase.
5. In light and medium air when I'm not using much backstay, the mainsail never hangs up anymore.
Tom Line
Hull 421
Grrr...
Hull 421
Grrr...
Backstay
Tom -
What are you going to use for the backstay flicker to improve line clearance?
What are you going to use for the backstay flicker to improve line clearance?
Sara T. Allen - "Front Runner"
S2 7.9m Grand Slam Hull #50
Sarasota Sailing Squadron
Ken Thompson Park
City Island, Sarasota, Florida
S2 7.9m Grand Slam Hull #50
Sarasota Sailing Squadron
Ken Thompson Park
City Island, Sarasota, Florida
I wanted to thank everyone for the input on the backstay; both here in the forum and through PM’s. We did end up making an upgrade to ours and are extremely happy with the results. For anyone who cares, here is a review of our backstay project from the team website…..
"Backstay. The OEM dual “pinched†wire system is about as useful as tickets to a Slim Whitman concert. When you factor in that the 7.9 basically used a MH extrusion as a frac to avoid the heavy penalty that MORC applied to a proper, tapered, rig it is easy to understand why more purchase is required. After much thought we came up with a very simple system that utilizes almost all of the existing hardware, is fully adjustable from both sides of the cockpit, and offers 16:1 purchase power, exactly enough to induce some serious mastbend and give new meaning to eradication of headstay sag. After having done our first test sail in blustery conditions I can attest that this is perhaps one of the single most important modifications that every 7.9 should have. On our race sail conditions we were actually able to reduce speed-robbing traveler and mainsheet adjustment by close to 40%. More importantly, it was like adding a third gear in the de-power/re-power transmission. A definite must have."
For the rest of our “to-do†list projects log on to www.windchaseryachts.com and click on the Instigator logo. We are always happy to hear from a fellow 7.9 ‘er.
Cheers.
"Backstay. The OEM dual “pinched†wire system is about as useful as tickets to a Slim Whitman concert. When you factor in that the 7.9 basically used a MH extrusion as a frac to avoid the heavy penalty that MORC applied to a proper, tapered, rig it is easy to understand why more purchase is required. After much thought we came up with a very simple system that utilizes almost all of the existing hardware, is fully adjustable from both sides of the cockpit, and offers 16:1 purchase power, exactly enough to induce some serious mastbend and give new meaning to eradication of headstay sag. After having done our first test sail in blustery conditions I can attest that this is perhaps one of the single most important modifications that every 7.9 should have. On our race sail conditions we were actually able to reduce speed-robbing traveler and mainsheet adjustment by close to 40%. More importantly, it was like adding a third gear in the de-power/re-power transmission. A definite must have."
For the rest of our “to-do†list projects log on to www.windchaseryachts.com and click on the Instigator logo. We are always happy to hear from a fellow 7.9 ‘er.
Cheers.
-
LarryE-old
- Posts: 233
- Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2003 12:06 pm
Tigerlily, you asked what I was going to do to improve the issue -
I finally bit the bullet and purchased a melges 24 batten. In one of those rare strokes of luck, not only is it the exact same length as the batten I made, but the holes come pre-drilled to the exact same locations.
The melges batten is about twice as stiff as the batten I was originally using.
I finally bit the bullet and purchased a melges 24 batten. In one of those rare strokes of luck, not only is it the exact same length as the batten I made, but the holes come pre-drilled to the exact same locations.
The melges batten is about twice as stiff as the batten I was originally using.
Tom Line
Hull 421
Grrr...
Hull 421
Grrr...
backstay batten
Guys, I thought that I might pass this on to you. You can get round battens. They are VERY stiff for their diameter and offer a much smaller overall cross section to the airflow. We are in the process of doing lots of sorely needed repairs to the boat but I am replacing the batten that I now have with a round one before the boat goes back in the water.
Dave
Dave
Round Battens
How are you attaching the round batten to the backstay?
With a flat batten a hole in the batten or a bullet block attached to the batten works.
With a flat batten a hole in the batten or a bullet block attached to the batten works.
Sara T. Allen - "Front Runner"
S2 7.9m Grand Slam Hull #50
Sarasota Sailing Squadron
Ken Thompson Park
City Island, Sarasota, Florida
S2 7.9m Grand Slam Hull #50
Sarasota Sailing Squadron
Ken Thompson Park
City Island, Sarasota, Florida
Attatchment
I haven't gotten there yet but I will use either the smallest SS eye strap that will fit over the batten or you could also use a short length of spectra line with a washer and screw on either side. One in front and one behind, of course. I guess that bending a couple of SS washers to the radius of the batten and then drilling one hole through the middle to hold it down would work too. That method would take a little more work but it would guarantee that the batten didn't slip out to the rear. I wouldn't just drill a hole through these and put a screw through them. They are very tuff but being pultruded are apt to split. All of the glass runs the length of the batten, none across the grain. Come to think of it, the last method would be great for the forward attatchment, good and postive, with the eye strap or line for the back. That way there would be no weakening of the batten where it has to make the bend over the mast head crane. A work in progress!
Dave
Dave