"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm setting up a stay sail forestay and have a slight problem.

See this pictu
http://sports.webshots.com/photo/272...63212926LiUcvQ

The old stay sail stay padeye was welded to an old electric winch
that was tossed in favor of my cast iron hot galvanized triple dipped
Navy number 1 wildcat drum combo. Now my inner forestay will be either
fore or aft of the winch. I guess the best would be right on top of
the bollard, but that would screw up the coating and foul things up
using the bollard.


Which side would be better? ..I'm leaning towards a padeye forward of
the doubler plate under the winch. But in a heavy blow she may balance
better with a small sail further aft..

Any suggestions or opinions?

Joe


I have a suggestion. It's based upon the fact that there should be
support close to where the stay attaches to the mast. The closer it
attaches to the lower shroud, upper mast attachment points the more
support it will have and the less sag-off it will have and the less mast
bending it will cause. With this in mind, the more forward you put the
deck fitting for the stay the higher the fitting on the mast. Head stay
and staysail stay should be parallel, btw. If it were mine to do, I'd
put the stay deck fitting aft rather than fore. This will probably get
the top fitting closer to the support of the lower shrouds which is a
good thing as the staysail is often your stormsail. You might even
consider fitting runners if you find the upper staysail attach point is
somewhere in the middle of an unsupported area of the mast.


Wilbur Hubbard