Submitted on September 7, 2005 by Dick Gross

Question: We recently purchased a Catalina 38' (1979) with a hydraulic backstay. Do have any suggestions for the range of settings we should be using?

Dick Gross

Answer: Dear Dick,

Your backstay adjuster should be used as a tool to tighten and loosen the headstay. Think of it as power adjustment for your sail plan.

In light air upwind and when reaching in light to moderate wind speeds, you want some headstay sag to power up your sail plan. Somewhere around 6 inches of headstay sag will give you plenty of power.

In moderate to windy conditions upwind you want as firm a headstay as possible, this will help to de-power your sail plan. In these conditions pump your backstay on hard until the mast has about 4 inches of bend. This bend also helps to de-power the mainsail. You will most likely find that the backstay is going through a range of about 8 inches from your light to your heavy settings. Try experimenting with the settings going upwind in moderate conditions. You will be able to look at the headstay sag and the resulting depth changes to your jib and mainsail as you tighten and loosen the backstay.

Regards,
Chuck Brown
RIG PRO

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