I have been reading the backstay messages for over a year, used to wonder how it was done since my boom hangs over the transom. Then I found out I have a SHORT mast (ohhhh ! ). Figured I didn't need a backstay with a short mast (what do I know?).
Then I read about running backstays and decided there are already too many things in or around the cockpit. I don't want to race, although I love to watch those that do, just like to sail along in the quiet...............(except for the occasional roar of a cigarete boat--<G>)
I don't know at what windspeed my short potter will scandalize the jib on it's own, but too much wind is seldom the problem where I sail, and besides by then I will probably have chickened out cranked up the outbaord (what's that noise) and headed for shelter.
With a short mast it would probably take more tension to bend the mast and I don't want to compress my deck into my pimpled hull <YUK>. Oh the decisions of life! Oh heck, I'll just continue to hope the wind will blow enough to get me where I want to go or at least someplace, and if it blows too hard I'll scurry back to port with my smoke maker.
Now if I were sailing in SF Bay I'd probably rig running backstays (or maybe I could talk Judy into doing it for me <BG>).
Now if anyone can figure a really good way to eliminate the compression post count me in on that retrofit. Judy?
Gang, this was an attempt at humor in case it wasn't obvious! I am not knocking anyone's ideas. I say "whatever floats your boat, so to speak".
Ted Duke
WWPs-19
Mountains of Virginia
"I hope there is as much warm weather and wind in April and May as there has been in January and February"]
Thomas Grimes wrote:
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> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> Judy
>
> It strikes me that there is another solution yet for the jib stay sagging off to leeward (especially when the jib is on a furler) and therefore affecting pointing ability. That is not one backstay, but two---running backstays. Before you collapse into your monitor in laughter (thus damaging the thing and causing a repair bill that will set the repair schedule on _Redwing_ back a month), I will agree with you that an original equipment backstay or on older boats Jerry's backstay kit is the best solution for P-19's with the tall rig.
>
> But what about the P-19's with the short rig--I seem to remember that the boom on the short rig is longer and actually hangs out over the stern. A fixed backstay wouldn't work if the boom extended out over the stern, but running backstays would, and they would give the mast the extra stability that it needs. It would also pull back enough to keep the jib luff tighter. Admittedly, it would work at the expense of setting and releasing the windward running backstay at each tack.
>
> I have another boat (in addition to my Potter) that didn't come with a backstay because there was no room for one, and that had quite a problem with the jib (on its furler) hanging off to leeward. Running backstays have not solved the problem totally, but they certainly helped. And for those of us who are a bit gadget-happy anyway, there is another string to pull.
>
> Regards
>
> Tom Grimes
> P-14 #363 Far Horizon
> Muncie, Indiana