- Created a temporary backstay using two Selden [$ INCLUDE product product="PBB60" %] and a length of 1/2" Sta-Set
. Attached on PBB60 the mainsail halyard with a bowline for the swivel shackle. Attached the other PBB60 to the starboard spinnaker turning block padeye. Attached one end of the 1/2" line to the port spinnaker turning block padeye with a bowline. Ran the line through both PBB60's forward to the starboard primary winch.
- Loosened the forward lowers till they were quite slack.
- Despite winching in some, was not able to get sufficent slack to pull the clevis pins from the backstay.
- Took apart the furling drum of the Selden 200 S
and fully extended the captive turnbuckle.
- Now able to get enough slack in the backstay to remove the clevis pins.
- TC arrived at this time. We measured for cutting the backstay. Attached the 1/2" turnbuckle and RF718 to the backstay chainplate. TC placed a reference mark, using white electrical tape, on the backstay a bit away from the RF718 at an arbitrary location as a reference point.
- Measured and measured again. Determined that the needed to shorten the backstay by 30-3/4" to accomodate the turnbuckle, RF718, and swageless eye terminal (inch)
terminal.
- Measured the backstay and marked the cutting point using white electrical tape.
- Cut the backstay at the first mark (WRONG) using a cutoff wheel on a Dremel tool. Backstay now 3" too short.
- Fortunately, the turnbuckle has 4" of adjustment as does the RF718, so we were able to accomodate the error by moving the RF718 to near full extension and opening the turnbuckle a bit more from the initial halfway setting.
- Reassembled the Selden roller furler leaving the captive turnbuckle fully extended.
- Retensioned forward lowers.
- Checked mast alignment and pre-bend.
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- Given that current situation, don't have to be concerned about anyone attempting to "frac-ilate" the rig easing the backstay and pulling the head of the mast forward.
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- Could install a toggle at the backtay chainplate and regain somewhat more than 2" of the 3" lost to miscutting.
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- With the RF718 set to about 2.5 on the scale the Loos gauge reads 19, as it did before installing the RF718. There is plenty of room to shorten the adjuster and tension the headstay.
