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Disconnecting Forestay for haulout


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Hi all, our Hood 38 has a baby stay with the outer forestay and both have furlers. We are hauling out at Half Moon bay in Oct and the previous owner used to reverse the boat into the travel lift to avoid having to remove the outer forestay. With no bow thruster and having a skeg rudder  she is a pig in reverse.

Is it particularly difficult to disconnect it with a furler installed ? Obviously we will use the baby stay and probably some halyards to support the mast in the meantime.

 

 

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Pull into the dock on the end of K pier and they can walk you backwards into it.
Disconnecting furler needs headsail dropped, and yes is harder than just a normal forestay because the weight of the foils causes the headstay to sag.

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Can you warp the boat into the travel lift? I had this exact discussion with my father in law last night.

Yes I wondered about that, its quite possible so I will talk to the HMB crew.

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The travel lift crew at HMB are great. They can probably help guide you in reverse.

Perhaps have a chat to the hardstand guys if you haven't already.

Wilco !

 

chrs.

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The removal of the forestay is very common for access to travel lifts.

Particularly in the case of cruising vessels with high stuff on the stern such as wind generators or Radar. It usually works out easier to remove the forestay than undo all the stuff on the blunt end.

For a boat that has been sailing for two years or so, it is not a bad idea anyway...take the opportunity to get the sail off the foil..lay it out on the grass and have a good look. You may find that it is actually stuck up there, which is great fun if it shreds at sea and you need to get it down in a hurry.

Taking the furler off at the bow is no big deal.

Use the now down Halyard as a temporary stay. Its great if you have a baby stay (inner forestay) as well.

Leave it there until you are in the travel lift slings and being lifted. Once you get close to the cross beam , you can double up with the spinaker halyard to a point further aft and temporarily remove the furler halyard. (Then put it back after you are in your cradle.

On vessel where the inner forestay fouls as well, you throw the forestay halyard over the cross beam, and tighten before undoing the inner forestay..reversing the procedure later when you go into the cradle..  (This happens particularly on smaller travel lifts)

 

To get ready...

Mark the backstay(s) with pen or wrap tape around (just above the lock nut because you only have to undo this a smidge to release the screw) ...then back them off a decent amount.

Then undo the forestay (doing the same).. You will need to lift it over the pushpit and run it down the side of the boat, and then pad it and tie it to a staunchion. This greatly reduces the chance of kinking the foil . Just be careful when coming in to the travel lift that you dont catch it on the chain or straps. 

....and while it is off with no load..check the feel of the bearings for any "gritty" feel or stickiness. Now is the time to replace them if they need it...not after they lock up and you make the mistake of putting the furling line on a winch to try and get the sail in   :-)

Dont forget to look at the top bearings and where the halyard constantly sits in the sheave at the mast top.

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