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Boat modifications >
Inner headstay
Inner headstay addition
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We added a removable inner headstay to turn Rouser into a cutter. We used
a mast fitting made by Wichard and purchased from Rigging Only.
The fitting comes apart to fit into a narrow slot cut into the mast. It
then fastens together and is riveted into place with 3/16" stainless steel
rivets.
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The mast fitting comes standard with a 3/4" hole for the
headstay clevis pin. We used a 1/4" 1x19 wire for the
headstay (as specified by S&S). Those swages only come
with a 1/2" pin, so we made a bronze bushing to make up
the difference. The Wichard D shackle is for the halyard turning block.
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Rouser has all external halyards, so we decided to stick with that arrangement.
We used 1/2" Yale ULS line for the halyard. It goes to a turning block by the mast,
then to a deck organizer, and finally to a line stopper mounted in front of the winch
on the port side of the companion way. We were glad once the hole was drilled in the
mast and the hardware successfully installed!
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We insulated the stainless steel fitting from
the aluminum mast with a thin rubber gasket. The rivets are insulated
from the mast with a coating of red Loctite.
Our running backstays are visible in the lower left of this
picture. They are standard t-ball fittings with 1/4" Spectra line which
has a breaking strength of 6200 lbs (1/4" 1x19 wire has a breaking strength of
6900 lbs). Spectra is UV resistant, will not corrode, and will not chafe the
sails.
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We used an ABI deck fitting and forestay release lever. The deck fitting
is mounted with four 5/16" bolts that pass through the large 1/4" aluminum backing
plate that was in place for the electric windlass. A 1/2" turnbuckle fitting ties
the deck fitting into a knee glassed into the bow. Also visible in the photo
are the foot switches for the windlass.
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Here the tie-down strap (1/4"x1 1/4" stainless steel flat stock) is attached to the
knee glassed into the bow. The bow has also been reinforced (can be seen in the
background) with a stainless steel plate and extra glass for collision
protection and to accept a U-bolt for an anchor snubber.
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We are using a friends staysail to test out our rig.
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Presently, we sheet the staysail to a diamond padeye mounted on the side decks
(also used for the vang/preventer). This padeye is backed by a 3"x7" stainless steel
plate. We are considering installing a track inside of the shrouds to sheet the staysail.
We had a new staysail made by UK sails. It is 115 sq. ft, and the top third is
high-vis orange!
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The running backstays attach to Wichard padeyes mounted on either
side of the wheel. We use a 4:1 tackle by
Lewmar Ocean blocks to tension the runners (not pictured).
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Each of these padeyes is backed by a 5"x7" stainless steel plate.
Note the heavy condensation found in the Pacific Northwest during the winter!
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Here is the line stopper by the mainsail sheet (white) winch. We lead the
staysail halyard (red) and the spinnaker halyard (green) to this winch.
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We bought oversized Lewmar genoa sheet blocks (rated for a 44' boat) so we wouldn't have to worry about them blowing
out. They can handle two lines, both the genoa sheet and the staysail sheet,
or the genoa sheet and the LifeSling hoisting tackle.
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© 2002 Eric & Angela Siegel, OurDotCom
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