Wheel type backstay adjuster

[Madhatter23]

The C&C 24 I purchased has a wheel type backstay adjuster in it. Are these not being used any longer? I have been trying to locate information on them, and it seems like they have been replaced. Mine is made by Ronstan, and I can't even find mention of it doing searches for Ronstan. Is there a reason they aren't very popular? Seems like a well made piece of machinery.

[Faster]

They work but they're slow to adjust... so generally, like any difficult-to-use adjustment it will get used less often than optimum. Other than that, for a masthead boat that size they are good enough.

Just make sure it's kept lubricated and free running.

[sailingdog]

The fiddleblock type ones are far better for a small boat, since they're easier to adjust quickly.

As faster said, if you keep it properly lubricated, it should work fine, if slowly.

[scottyt]

why have i been seeing more and more adjusters on back stays on masthead rigs where they dont do much? the really funny thing is when they have roller furlers and never even play with haylard tension.

[jfurlong]

I find adjusting tension on the back stay has a considerable effect on weather helm on my 1980 Hunter 30, masthead rig

[puddinlegs]

Originally Posted by scottyt

why have i been seeing more and more adjusters on back stays on masthead rigs where they dont do much? the really funny thing is when they have roller furlers and never even play with haylard tension.

You're assuming masthead rigs don't move. Depends on the rig design. We have a masthead rig that moves a good deal with backstay on as do a number of older racer/cruiser masthead rigs (j-boats, alsberg express's, olsons, etc..)

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by Madhatter23

The C&C 24 I purchased has a wheel type backstay adjuster in it. Are these not being used any longer? I have been trying to locate information on them, and it seems like they have been replaced. Mine is made by Ronstan, and I can't even find mention of it doing searches for Ronstan. Is there a reason they aren't very popular? Seems like a well made piece of machinery.

We have the same backstay adjuster on our Pearson P30. They're not made anymore. IIRC: There is a company that makes one like it, but only for very small boats.

I have one bit of advice for you: KEEP IT WELL-LUBRICATED. It's a stainless-on-stainless screw/nut. Basically a turnbuckle with a hand-wheel. Too little lube and it will gall and seize-up. Once that happens: It's toast. This I know because this I did. Luckily, for me, we had a friend of a friend who's a machinist with access to the necessary equipment to fabricate a new "nut" for us. (The screw was okay.) I think he made it out of 304 stainless.

Even if it's kept well-lubed, it's probably wise to try to avoid adjusting it while the main is under a lot of load.

Some day, if ever we can afford to do so, I'll replace it with something more robust.

Jim

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by scottyt

why have i been seeing more and more adjusters on back stays on masthead rigs where they dont do much?

Common misconception. Depending on the masthead rig, you can actually induce/increase mast bend marginally with a backstay adjuster. But, more importantly and of more effect on a masthead rig: You can use it to increase forestay tension, reducing sag in the luff and flattening the sail.

Jim

[ahab211]

I use the same system and it works fine on my C&C 24. I use mine to put tension on my roller furling forestay which leaves my mast winch to use for my main as I have to cross the mast with the halyard on the other side.