In my case, the boat was on the hard all winter.  I checked on it in mid-March 
and saw more than the normal leaked oil at the base.  The backstay was not as 
snug as I would have liked so I gave the adjuster a few pulls, backstay 
tightened, and I left.  Two weeks later, oil all over the cockpit and the 
backstay was wildly flopping around with about a 4 or 5 ft sag -- no way it 
would have supported the mast under load.  Mast probably would not come down, 
but the mast would have had to deflect many inches at the top before 
re-engaging the backstay -- not good.  I quickly removed the backstay adjuster, 
got a couple of large turnbuckles on either end of where the adjuster was, and 
ran a line through 3 or 4 times, pulling the backstay tight again.  Later got 
the NavTec turnbuckle from Torresen and that's how it sits for now.  I'll put 
the new SailTec adjuster on in a few days when it warms up and I finish what 
needs to be done before going in the water.

Jeff Laman
1981 C&C34 "Harmony"
Ludington, Mi

________________________________
From: Dennis C. via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:02 AM
To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
Cc: Dennis C. <capt...@gmail.com>
Subject: Stus-List Re: Navtec Hydraulic backstay adjuster, soon to be free

If you're talking about a traditional cylinder/ram style hydraulic adjuster, a 
complete leak of all fluid should not result in the loss of the rig.  The rod 
and piston will simply extend to the maximum and stop.  The piston will be at 
the top of its travel against the plug in the top of the cylinder.  The 
backstay will be floppy but should still hold the mast up.

Been there, done that.  Happened to Touche' during an offshore race at night.  
We rigged a line from the bottom of the backstay through a snatch block on the 
transom tang to a winch to give us some control and peace of mind but it wasn't 
entirely necessary.  We were going downwind in mid 20's at the time.

The most significant negative was Paul  Eugenio, who was steering, got 
hydraulic oil all over his shirt.  We made him leave it in the cockpit when we 
finally docked.  :)

  --
Dennis C.
Touche' 35-1 #83
Mandeville, LA

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 8:43 AM Bruce Whitmore via CnC-List 
<cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:
Sorry,  but I seem to be missing something.  My split hydraulic backstays have 
leaked in the past, to I initially just set the backstay tension using the 
turnbuckle to a light air setting at the dock and put it on my list for future 
repairs.  Now they're fixed ( and yes, more story on that to come).  So what 
are you folks saying when you talk about a failure at sea being a bad outcome?  
Sure, I understand the loss of fluid, but not something that would result in 
loss of the rig.

Would you please explain?

Thanks!

Bruce Whitmore
1994 C&C 37/40+
"Astralis"
Madeira Beach, FL
(847) 404-5092


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