Headstay Measurement

Posted By: Dano Superior Pleasure CM30 Rainy Lake ON
Date: 1/31/08 12:27p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: headstay measurement (Vince)

Hey Vince I assume you can raise your mast and you have sufficient lenght in your aft stay. If it was my problem, I would attach the forward stay on the mast. Then next to it attach a cable, like safey lines for a garage door spring, that is sufficently longer than your headstay. The additional lenght would have to be determined by where and how you could anchor it on or near the bow. One means would be by a generic turn buckle so you can adjust to get your mast verticle in place to hold it. Don't forget to check your rearstay and how much adjustment you have left. Write it down. Then I would extend the headstay turn buckle to 75% (or 1/2" min of threads turned in) of it's potential lenght and mark or measure the exposed threads if you cannot measure the inside distance in the barrel. Pull the headstay tight to the attaching point and measure the additional distance needed. My initial guess is that two clevis' would be needed to attach the headstay, maybe one. Tighten up you headstay and measure again the difference on the turn buckle. Compare the difference including the lenght of the clevis(s). Drop your mast and remove your headstay. Lay it out straight and tight with your turn buckle back to the 75% marks. Measure and add the lenght above. You should be within a half inch overall lenght. One thing to take into consideration is how long the barrel is on the turn buckle is and the safe distance you can have it open it for use on each end. I suggest getting someone to help on this. I had the opposite problem, too long for my stays had stretched. Hope this gives you an idea. Good luck. Dano