Adjustable Backstay: Yes or no?

[arjand]

Hi all,

Preparing a 40ft for long term cruising. Currently I have a navteq boomvang and adjustabe backstay which need to be overhauled at USD 600+.
Is it foolish to even contemplate the replacement of the hydraulic system by a turnbuckle on the backstay and topping lift/downhaul at the boom? Is the adjustable backstay important for offshore? (the boat has running backstays ). Any opinions welcome!
Regards, Ari

[Bash]

Overhauling your hydraulic system would be considerably less work than replacing the boom vang and backstay adjuster. If you do the work yourself, it will probably cost less money as well.

It's really not a hard job.

[Blue Stocking]

If you want optimum performance, and have a bendy rig, then some sort of adjustability is necessary.
A high strength block and tackle assembly in place of the ram might work.

[capngeo]

Florida Rigging & Hydraulics rebuilt mine for under $150.... ask for Buc Miller, I never met the man, but talking to him on the phone he sounds like a walking encyclopedia of rigging!

NOTE: I have no affiliation other than being a satisfied customer

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by arjand

Is the adjustable backstay important for offshore? (the boat has running backstays ).

Yes. Off the wind easing the backstay - even with a very stiff mast like mine - makes the headsail shape nice and soft. It also helps generate lift at the expense of pointing in light air. Cranking it down makes an incredible difference in pointing when the wind is strong enough (10 kts or so on my boat).

Look at mechanical backstay adjusters and compare the prices with a rebuild of your hydraulic system.

If you have running backs your probably have an inner forestay. The running backs keep the mast from pumping in heavy air from the staysail loads.

[barnakiel]

Depending on rig configuration you may do without adjustable backstay. Many boats do not have them in the first place.

Boom vang can be substituted with a tackle and a lift.

b.

[James S]

Rebuilding the boomvang yourself isn't that big of a deal.
But if you dont want to...seems it could be still useful as a boom kicker of sorts so you dont need to install a topping lift....then a simple traditional vang would work.

[daddle]

Fix it. It's very handy.

[bazzer]

Hydraulics on a backstay for cruising? The 39 Benatue next to me just broke his backstay with to much tension