Adding an Inner Stay

[KindOfBlue]

I have been looking at some boats that have removable inner stays. Seems like a great option for a storm sail or possibly converting to a cutter rig.

Does anyone have any experience on this topic and if so, are you putting too much stress on a rig that wasn't designed for this? I imagine that using the inner stay for a storm sail would be much better than using it as a cutter rig and that you'll have balance and stress issues if you try to convert to a cutter.

[sailingdog]

Your last paragraph is pretty much spot on.

If the boat wasn't designed for an inner forestay, the forestay may put loads on the mast it wasn't designed to handle, and possibly lead to damaging the rig. Often, the inner forestay is offset by running backstays, but they can be a PITA. Having any inner forestay doesn't automatically convert a sloop to a cutter, since a cutter generally has the mast stepped further aft than a sloop built on an identical hull.

Most removable inner forestays are designed for heavy weather use to fly a storm jib and keep the center of effort relatively low and further aft.

[jimmalkin]

KOB - If set up properly, the rig should be able to handle a staysail as long as the geometry of the sail plan works for the rig. And with the center of effort to the middle of the boat, staysails and small jibs make very nice storm configuations, I think.

We have a removable stay on our Passport 50 - the rig was designed for this and I'd note a couple of things you might consider: 1 - Running back stays are deployed when the staysail is pulling in moderate to heavy air to keep the mast from bending forward. 2 - the tack point for the stay needs to be substantial; essentially a chainplate through bolted, etc. 3 - There is a trade-off issue as follows - if the removable forestay is kept in a sleeve and pulled aft and out of the way when not in use, you can get chafe of the stay. If the forestay is left deployed to the tack at the foredeck, it will interfere with tacking and jibing your genoa unless it is a higher cut, smaller jib such as a Yankee. We leave the forestay deployed at anchor and only pull it aft when we are underway and tacking/jibing.

Despite the above, I really enjoy sailing in heavy air with the staysail and a reefed main. Good sail shape, stability and manageable sail areas. When and if we build a storm jib, it will be deployed on the forestay.

Hope this helps -

[RXBOT]

A solent stay may be the answer for you. They attach close to the masthead. I believe within a foot is max allowed. The inner and outer stays won't be parallel to each other. But if you only use inner by itself for a storm gib shouldn't be an issue. A solent stay won't require running backstays or babystays.