Swage hook/t-hook fitting - Do I need the backing plate

[cep32 4]

Is it necessary to have the backing plate for trapeze lines?

 

I found a reference to the 505 guys not bothering.

 

I have a small hole already in the right place where the old line used to feed through and connect to a through bolt higher up the mast. I happen to have a couple of old short sections of wire with a hook swaged on the end so figured I could make the hole a little larger and hook directly into them. I would use dyneema for the rest of the length.

[Marshy 30]

Yes. it will be like a can opener to a coke can otherwise...

[cep32 4]

Bugger. Thanks for the info. Saved me from my own stupidity.

[white tornado 1]

It depends on the wall thickness of the mast. Without backing plates, you will get a bit of wear, but if mast is reasonably thick walled, are unlikely to get splits. I have had my 2.5mm 1x19 wire Zephyr stays set up with hooks, no backing plates, and in 5 seasons of racing at least once a week, there has been about 2 mm of wear. The load on a Zephyr side stay is probably about the same as the average trapeze wire, but the trapeze wire will move round more, thus probably wearing faster.