Experience with a 'Babystay'

[sailstoo]

All,

I have a 34 ft mast head rigged boat (C&C 34) with a factory equipped baby stay that goes < half way up the mast and tacks on the cored deck about half way to the stemhead. It is not removable and is rod rigged. Any thoughts to rigging a small gale sail (60 sq. ft.) to it in a blow? Kind of a stay sail...if you will. Thanks.

[Catamount]

Check the supporting structure under the deck -- is there enough beef there to handle the additional load of a storm sail?

Check how the stay is attached at each end -- does it have "toggles" to help with alignment issues that might develop when you apply a side load to the stay?

Check the other supports to the mast near where the babystay attaches -- do you have aft lowers or check-stays to counter-act the pull of the babystay on the mast?

Just my thoughts...

[Jim D]

I would have thought anything was removable. However, I don't have a good feeling about attaching a sail to a rod stay. Maybe someone else will jump in to say that it is okay, but it doesn't feel right to me.

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