My 1995 36 XL was delivered with a hydraulic backstay which I have used regularly with one trip to the local hydraulic shop to replace the seals (~$250). Of course, the stern steps were likely designed to withstand the loading this can produce--if not it was over-designed since I have never had an issue with its attachment to the hull. I think it is an elegant solution compared to the blocks and tackle necessary to rig a mechanically adjustable backstay. If I were to add such a backstay and uncertain of the strength of an attachment point, I would simply spread the load with a SS single or Y-shaped bar attached to the stern with a solid and relatively large backing plate to which the SS bar is through bolted. The plate could be starboard of sufficient thickness (at least 1/2") or some solid wood (I like red oak) whose area is such to generously spread the load. Keep in mind that the load is not perpendicular to the stern but pretty close to tangential and depending on your mast cross section, it should bend with only about 1000-2000 lbs of gauge pressure. OTOH if your mast is 'telephone pole' like, you aren't going to bend it anyway in which case I would 'forgetaboutit'. Charlie NelsonWater PhantomC&C 36 XL/kcb
-----Original Message----- From: Wade Glew via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Wade Glew <wadeg...@gmail.com> Sent: Thu, Aug 13, 2020 5:27 pm Subject: Stus-List C&C 33 MK II backstay Dear Listers, As many of you know, the 33 MK II has a single rod backstay which terminates approximately in the centre of the reverse transom. I don't have a hydraulic backstay tensioner. Instead there is a small (perhaps 6") diameter wheel in the backstay which can be turned by hand (rather laboriously) to tighten or loosen the backstay (which is quite impossible when the sails are loaded). I'm not really a racer (and hydraulics are expensive) so have pondered the wisdom of swaging a fitting on the rod backstay and converting it to a split backstay with a Johnson car and blocks to have a manual tensioning system. This would increase somewhat the angle of the backstay and present the issue of finding spots on the hull or deck to anchor the backstay that would have sufficient strength. I have no idea if this would drastically alter the dynamics of the sail plan or the boat altogether. I also don't know where on the hull might have sufficient strength to support the backstay attachment. Is this a bad idea?Would anyone have any thoughts? Many thanks ...... WadeOh Boy 33 MK IILake of the Woods_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
