Yes, there are mechanical backstay adjusters available, and I did consider. But, I race and need to make adjustments that take a few seconds, not several minutes. Mechanical adjusters that I looked at are basically all thread with an integral wrench.
Jeff L. ________________________________ From: Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:21 AM To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Della Barba, Joe <joe.della.ba...@ssa.gov> Subject: Stus-List Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Navtec Hydraulic backstay adjuster, soon to be free Pro Tip: If you get that much slack, you can always add the longest turnbuckle you can find to the backstay and have it normally at full length to give you a lot of slack to take up. I really like my mechanical adjuster, it seems utterly bulletproof. I have no idea if they are still made. Joe From: Jeffrey A. Laman via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:17 AM To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Jeffrey A. Laman <jlam...@outlook.com> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stus-List Re: Navtec Hydraulic backstay adjuster, soon to be free 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
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