[Capri25] Backstay question

[Kenneth Reiff]

We've replaced the standard "pinch the two wires together" type of backstay
adjuster with a very nice, and powerful, cascade system as we've always had
problems getting the backstay tight enough to get rid of headstay sag while
in breeze.  With this new cascading system, trust me, we're not going to
have headstay problems anymore.

My question?  I looked below at the very front of the boat in front of that
little wooden piece, and the headstay fitting is only through bolted at the
top with no back up plate, and only one bolt in the front stem, under the
rub rail.  Typical Catalina construction...  cheap.

Has anyone in the Wayzata fleet improved their backstay adjusting
arrangement with a more powerful cascade?  And has anyone ever beefed up the
headstay piece? I'm thinking of removing it, then welding on a much longer
tang, so that I have about three bolts through the stem of the boat, not
just one.  Plus, Catalina used no back up plates, only washers, which scares
me.  Has anyone put on too much backstay tension and yanked the headstay
fitting right off the freaking deck?  Or am I just being paranoid because
these boats are built so poorly?  Thoughts on yanking off your headstay
fitting would be appreciated.  If you could, please email me at

-- 
Ken Reiff
Email:  kenreiff at gmail.com
Cell:     562-637-6630
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.wyc.org/pipermail/capri25/attachments/20081230/638f40c1/attachment.htm