Consider this idea that I drew on a couple of boats years ago when I
was a yacht designer:

Make the back stays fixed and running just as far back as you can live
with on a broad reach. For a smaller boats, you could end them in
large pelican hooks that would let you tension them the way lifeline
gates work. The wire weight of a 50 footer might dictate a more
complex arrangement.

Then provide tackles back in the normal running back stay location.

The forward position is basically storage for when you don't need a
lot of backstay support. In most conditions, there will be enough
tension to damp out mast pumping and tension the inner stay. On a
long downwind run, you can just release the leeward stay. When you
need significant aft support, hook the backstay into the tackle and
set it up.

Most of the time this will probably end up being just a fixed backstay
rig but you'll have the extra support when you need it.

--

Roger Long



"Len" wrote in message
...
I want to install a cutter-stay and two back stays on my 50ft alu
sloop, 1) to add a cutter-jib to my sailing options and 2) to stop
the
annoying pumping-motion of my mast.

So my options a

1) Running backstays, which are relatively hard to install reason
why
I would prefer:

2) Fixed backstays, to be installed on the existing puttings of the
lower stays and the other end on the exsisting mount of the
intermediates. When fixed like that, there will "room voor the boom"
on downwind courses.

Problem is the very small angle the fixed backstays will make
compared
to the mast. They will be fixed to puttings one meter before the
mast.
The other end will be mounted 14 meter high in the mast.

What do you think about the forces such an installation will cause
when using a cutter stay in heavy weather?

Regards, Len.