Greetings,

I have a Cutter/Ketch with 3/8 rigging on the Main with the exception of the backstay which has 5/16 upper wire and lower split 5/16 wire via a trangle. Currently there are no running backstays - I will be adding them in the near future.

I would like to beef the upper backstay to 3/8 but the masthead pin hole is 1/2 as are the trangle pin holes, the 3/8 rigging uses 5/8 pins. I could run dual 5/16 backstays to the chainplates...... I would rather use one leg of the dual backstay as an antenna for the SSB anyway - it's currently on the port Mizzen midstay.

Is there any reason I should not use dual backstays and stick with a split backstay?

Thanks - CodeZero

Since you have 1/2" pins, I think I would recommend going with two 1/4" stays. The smaller insulators will be less expensive anyway.
You could run the numbers on the wire and terminals but I don't think you will spend anymore with twin backstays.

 

Your right, I would only need 2 x 1/4" backstays to beef it up.. I think I'm starting to miss the forest because of the trees. I do have an excess of 5/16 wire I want to use which I purchased when Boat US went out of business.

Thanks!

CodeZero

 

dual backstays are much harder to tune than a split backstay. you can read about this over at Spartalk.

Also dual backstays probably won't let you fly a mizzen staysail as effeciently as a split backstay. ...a mizzen staysail GREAT sail on a ketch or yawl rig.

 

I knew there was a reason why I might not want to do the dual backstays. I just could not think of it.

Thank you for the reply - going to go with a split and leave the SSB anntena on the port mid Mizzen

CodeZero

 

If it is the SSB antenna that you are thinking of in this project, take a look at a Gam antenna. I use one on my boat and the performance has been great. I have a split backstay, and the last 10 or 15 feet are above the split. I had the local yard hoist a worker over the split and press the last section over the single stay section.

Gam Antennas

 

I had considered the GAM but had not researched it enough - does it appear to be something that will stay in place durring an extended storm at sea?

Thanks - CodeZero