Dwight,
If you Navtec gauge is like mine (in a panel), it probably reads direct pressure, not the pressure exerted on the backstay. They would be the same if the piston area was 1 sq. inch, but otherwise the pressure times the piston area will give you the tension on the backstay. Jake Jake Brodersen C&C 35 Mk-III "Midnight Mistress Hampton VA From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of dwight veinot Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 9:26 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Backstay tension Chuck Alianna is ancient and therefore has wire rigging, the backstay, forestay and upper shrouds are 1x19, 9/32 which has a breaking strength around 10000 lbs. Surprisingly my rather inexpensive Loos tension gage gives readings that are very close (+/- 100 lbs) to what the gage on my Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster gives but I am not sure if either one is giving accurate numbers, just that they correlate pretty good. I agree the mast in my single spreader 35MKII is likely a lot less flexible, especially fore and aft than the mast on your 34R. I adjusted the head stay to give slight to neutral weather helm with about 500 lbs on the backstay and it stays that way. I apply backstay tension to maintain that slight weather helm as apparent wind speed increases going to weather, so the boat is well balanced and will hold course with no or little steering required. In fact after newcomers to the boat have had a chance to steer going to weather for a while I will often ask them to let the wheel go to see what happens.she holds her course without their attention to steering and they become more relaxed about being behind the wheel. It is quite usual that afternoon winds around here are 15 to mid 20's apparent going to weather and as I noted in an earlier post with full main and 135 jib, tensioning the backstay above 1200lbs. has little effect on performance in terms of pointing or boat speed. Coincidentally 1200 lbs. is the same tension I set my upper shrouds at. I should say that I much prefer sailing to weather in 10-14 apparent and so do most guests I have taken on board. Light air sailing is a civilized way to spend and afternoon with family and friends most of whom who prefer less than 15 degrees of heel. Dwight Veinot C&C 35 MKII, Alianna Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS
_______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
