Hello Ewan and all,

Sorry about the big file.  I have now learned how to compress the files.  You would think I would know that by now.  I hope I haven’t caused any more trouble than is already obvious.

Anyway, about the project: As some may remember, the solent stay project has been on my scope for a while now, and I appreciate the advice of others on this site.  One thing I learned was that previous solent stay efforts created another project; how to sheet the solent headsail at a tight enough angle for the sail to be useful going upwind.  I hope I have achieved this by placing the bottom of the stay just aft of the existing forestay/furled jib.  Previous efforts tacked the stay aft of the anchor locker.  My stay runs roughly parallel to the forestay, and about 8 inches aft.  Once my sail is delivered I’m hopeful that I find I can achieve the proper sheeting angle for going close-hauled.  My sailmaker, Schurr Sails, seems to think this will work just fine, though I will continue to have to route the sheets outside the shrouds.

The stay is secured at the top with a Wichard two piece mast tang. The tang is located about 28 inches from the top, and consists of two halves, mirror image of each other, that slip through a 4”X3/8” slot cut in the mast.  The pieces go in one at a time and are fastened together once they are inside the mast.  Then, holes are drilled through the mast to pick up the holes (already drilled) in the mast tang halves.  Quarter inch SS rivets are then used to secure the tang assembly to the mast.

The bottom required some engineering, but not too difficult.  It is basically a welded box section made of ¼â€ SS plate, that links the deck area about 8 inches aft of the forestay to the stem of the boat.  It is bolted to the stem with the same fasteners that bolt the forestay chainplate to the stem.  Easy to decipher from pics, if you can open them.

The sail I’m having made will be 250 sq ft, reefable to 150. Not quite a storm jib, though I could easily hank one on to the solent stay if I had one.  The stay is 5/16” SS, by the way, with a mechanism at the bottom to tension it.  It’s not a hyfield lever, but performs the same function.  I bought it so long ago I can’t remember the brand, though it would be easy enough to find I suppose if anyone wants to know.

Again, I’m sorry about the large file size on the pics.  I’ll have to send Ewan a bigger check next year (sorry money)!  Now that I know how to resize, if anyone couldn’t get the pics because they’re out cruising, and wants them, I can retransmit.

David

Blue Moon, #189

Dwbuettell,

This system is largely self made and self assembled.  The tang at the top of the stay (mounted to the mast) is a Wichard 9150.  Quarter inch SS rivets to secure.  The stay itself is 5/16” 1X19 SS.  You need about 45 feet, depending on where you locate the tang on the mast and the length of your tensioning mechanism at the bottom.  I had a rigging shop swage on a ‘tang’ end fitting for the lower end of the stay…fits into the ‘fork’ end of the tensioning mechanism.  After cutting the stay to length, I installed a compression type ‘fork’ end at the top, to fit the Wichard mast tang.  I used a HI-MOD brand compression fitting.  I like them because they are easy to use and are fully re-usable without replacing the cone.  This worked for me because I originally cut the wire rope too long.  Regarding the tensioning mechanism:  I cannot find the make of the one I used, which is unfortunate because after perusing the internet I believe it to the best for this application.  Mine is basically a giant turnbuckle, with two handles which are flipped out to make adjustments.  One handle holds the upper end from twisting and the other handle turns the turnbuckle body.  The handles are about 4 inches long so they don’t interfere too badly with the furled genoa when you are turning them. It is a high quality piece, and was recommended to me by a rigger I met at the St Pete boat show well over a year ago.  I bought it, and didn’t use till now.  The Hyfield lever is another option for the adjuster, and Wichard builds numerous babystay and forestay adjusters.  You could ask your rigger to recommend a model or show him a picture of mine.

The reinforcement bracket which reinforces the deck area was fabricated by my local marine welder.  I mocked it up with cardboard, using an angle finder to determine the angle between the stem and deck.  This was not difficult, but did involve time standing on my head in the anchor locker.  My welder made the bracket from my cardboard mock up and did an excellent job.  Fits perfectly.  I specified ¼â€ SS plate, which might be overbuilt, but that’s ok with me.  That’s about it, except I did install a deck padeye just aft of the solent stay deck attach point for the purpose of securing the tack strop for the sail itself.  If I’d thought about if beforehand, I could have incorporated the backing plate for the padeye in the bottom end reinforcement bracket.  As it was, I had to add a backing plate for the padeye.  Shouldn’t be a problem, as the real tension on the system is through the stay, not through the tack of the sail, but I still wish I’d foreseen this need.

David

Blue Moon, #189