Running backstay specifications advice

[Newport41]

I'm designing a similar system. The runners will be exactly as Sailboy has posted with a slightly different bungie setup. We have the secondary winches to make it more practical than a tackle. As for the blocks, I'm leaning towards Garhauer's series60 3 1/4" block rated to 3500lbs. I'd like to have everything rated above 4000lbs though. Not to hijack the thread, but is your inner forestay also going to be a high tech line or will it be wire? Anyone else want to weigh in on that one?

[Newport41]

I now realize that this is an old thread and nobody will accuse me of hijacking it . And I lied about the blocks. I'm going to have to use blocks built for runners. Harken 57mm air runners. They're only like $300, no big deal. I must have lots of money because I own a boat.

[jmolan]

I had trouble truing to post photo's of my running backstay set up. I can leave them made up almost all the time as I have a wide base to attach them to. They (Like all my rig) are Dynex Dux synthetic rope. I believe I have a 4:1 block set up to tension things up. Making them out of rope makes it so much nicer to handle and move around. Should be a shot or two in the links below.
I helped to set up a Passport 47' with new synthetic runing backs. The boat was operated by two 70 yr. old ladies in Mexico. The were really stoked at the changes!

[Boatsmith]

I agree with the idea of getting a fair lead and using stoppers. I tried the same idea once on a Ross 930 and found that it was very difficult to get the same amount of tension on the runner. Using synthetic line for runners these days is the norm.

[puddinlegs]

Originally Posted by killarney_sailor

The runners support an inner stay that might have a staysail or storm jib on it. I am looking for something that could be tightened up and released fairly quickly and moved forward when not needed.

Bruce

Bruce, the advice that someone posted about just getting the fairlead straightened out is probably the best answer. It doesn't sound like you're runners are structural (the mast doesn't fall down if you don't use them). Honestly, once the fairlead is worked out, keeping it on the windward winch, secondary or primary, is the simple solution. You can put in a substantial stopper, but you'll still need to load it on your winch when you release to avoid the shock load when the stopper is opened. I think if you check with a rigger, Harken or the like, they might even suggest a 2:1 depending on the size of your rig and sail loads.

We use check stays on our rig (34' boat) to keep the mast from pumping in rough water. They're long enough that they can be pulled forward to a small plastic hook on a bungee at the base of the shrouds when they're not needed... We use amsteel with outer covering for the lower 'working' area that passes through the aft turn blocks, stoppers, and finally, secondary self-tailing winches. It's a pretty simple set up that works well and can be tacked quickly. The ST winches eliminate the need for the stoppers going upwind, but we do use the stoppers going down wind to keep the secondaries free for spinnaker work.