Furling Staysail-Can it be self-tending

Pamlicotraveler · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006

I guess I don't go to enough boatshows to know what the options are - hopefully some here can help. We have a hanked on staysail on our 43' cutter. It is self tending which is nice, but still requires us to go forward on deck to attach the halyards. Since we have wanted to use the staysail in heavy weather, it is nervewracking, and probably dangerous to have go forward. The question is, if we install a fulring system for the staysail, can it remain self-tending? How could there be a staysail boom on the furling system? Otherwise we have a new set of sheets to deal with.

Any thoughts?

camaraderie · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006

Several of the Island Packets use a staysail boom with a furler. You might want to look at that site to see the arangement.
http://www.ipy.com/Pictures/IP440_2.JPG
My own perspective is that the staysail is so easy to handle and roll on a furler that you don't need to make it self tending. Not having a boom also clears the foredeck and makes it a less dangerous place to be should you have to go forward in a blow.

Pamlicotraveler · #3 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006

thanks cama...great picture. I can't really tell what's going on there, but I assume that the staysail is sheeted to the cockpit somewhere on a port tack, and that if he tacked he would have two sets of sheets to bring over. Or maybe there is some sort of traveler, but I wouldn't think that would work without a boom. Is that right? Just curious, how is your staysail rigged?

camaraderie · #4 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006

Yeah...you still have standard sheets run back to the cockpit and of course a furling line as well but the sail runs out on the boom much like an in-mast mainsail furling system.
We just have ours on a furler and run the lines to the cockpit. Even on our boat, the sail is relatively small and since it is generally sheeted in pretty tightly under use, tacking it is no big deal. The loads are so much less than on our genny that most of the time I can furl it just by yanking on the line with no winch needed. We store our dinghy on deck at sea so a boom was not something I considered. With your size boat the staysail should be even easier to handle and the MAIN problem in handling one is as you point out needing to go forward. The furler...with or without a boom will be a whole lot safer and easier. We really like our staysail when conditions pick up a bit or at night as the boat doesn't get over-powered and it is easy to snuff if the wind picks up further or shifts. When my wife takes her watches I don't get called on for strength tasks if the staysail is up instead of the genny. That's maybe a bit slower...but we're cruisers eh? ...Easy does it!

khbritten · #5 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006

I just spotted your question, since my head was in the bilges and battery compartments all weekend. We've had exactly the same thoughts on our boat's rig - hanked on like yours - and are definitely going to go self-tending. I've thought some about how, but haven't made any decisions yet. The Island Packet rig is nice, and having the boom mount aft of the stay has another benefit. Easing the sheet off the wind automatically adds a little draft to the sail. But you would have to add the new deck hardware. I've also seen a system where the staysail boom is mounted to the same chainplate as the stay, just below the furler. I haven't seen it up close... anyone out there know the details? We will probably go that way to save drilling holes in a perfectly fine foredeck. I don't know how your current staysail is sheeted now... is it on a traveler? Ours is, and that will probably have to be modified. Right now it's got stops which you have to go onto the foredeck to adjust, which is a real pain. So, I am thinking of duplicating the rig on the old schooner I used to sail, where the traveler car would self-tend under control of a line we could run back to the cockpit. We end up with one more line than Cam's rig (furler line, traveler line, sheet, and outhaul). But tacking up a narrow channel, it will pay...

Pamlicotraveler · #6 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by khbritten

I don't know how your current staysail is sheeted now... is it on a traveler? Ours is, and that will probably have to be modified. Right now it's got stops which you have to go onto the foredeck to adjust, which is a real pain.

Yes, That's what we have - the staysail and its boom connect to the traveler and so you have to go forward to adjust the traveler. One sheet controls the sail tension on both tacks. The stops on the traveler are so impossible to use we have just kept it in the center position on all tacks anyway...not an ideal solution. It sure would be nice to have that sail controlled from the cockpit when things get crazy.

JakeLevi · #7 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006

I was wondering about this, in conjunction with a steering vane, or better to reef in the stay sail ?