Solent or Inner Stay?

[jpendoley]

Took Tropicbird out in 20 knot breeze yesterday and she did well with the genny rolled up to a jib and the main reefed. I was conservative because the admiral asked me to make it a "calm" outing. Hard on the wind she would swing through the usual 100 degree tacking angle and manage 4-5 knots to windward in almost flat seas. Off the wind and reaching she hit 7.4kts. Really a "calm" and well mannered ship. I think some gusts were higher-25+ and then she wanted to round up. That got me wondering about a storm jib. There is a hound just below the masthead, but no deck fitting for detachable inner stay (some call a Solent). Has anyone successfully rigged an inner stay?  I have a massive ABI highfeild lever so all I would need is the deck attachment point.  Riggers say no running backstays are required if the masthound is mounted within a foot or so of the masthead. 

What have others done to address the need for a storm jib?

this is a repost due to forum hiccup.

[S/V Deo Volente]

I added a removable solent stay about a foot below the headstay and it attaches to a fitting I had made that mounts just behind the anchor sprit. I don't have any close-ups of the details though.

http://www.pearson365.com/forum/index.php?topic=1150.msg6113#msg6113

[jpendoley]

Bob,
How did it work out?  I'm looking to reduce the weather helm and heeling above 20-25 knots.  Did you add a new sheet track? any change in windward performance?

[P69]

I have a 367 and here is the info on the inner say. maybe it can help you

Stay deck/staysail tack fitting: after end is 47" aft of head stay chain plate, 4" long by about 2" wide
Under deck fitting: identical

Connection between under deck fitting: 5/8" bronze turnbuckles  and 3/8" x 1" or 1.25" (?) SS flat bar connected to a SS bracket thru bolted to a glassed-in piece of plywood that runs along the center line, glassed to the hull.

Mast fitting is 30' 8" up from desk

Two 3/8" bolts hold sandwich the two lower bracket plates to the glassed-in plywood

1/2" pins (?) connect the 3/8" flat bar to the turnbuckle and, at its lower end, to the lower bracket


Mast fitting is just a 3/8" flat bar bent to angle of stay. It's not a good design. Going to change it to wrap round sides of mast and incorporate the running back stay tangs.

[S/V Deo Volente]

Bob,
How did it work out?  I'm looking to reduce the weather helm and heeling above 20-25 knots.  Did you add a new sheet track? any change in windward performance?

I did not have to add track since I'm using the jib boom and it's traveler. I honestly don't use it a lot but it has been nice on a couple occasions close reaching. Once was in 25knots gusting to 35 sailing along the shore. It was nicely balanced.
Bob

[jpendoley]

P69 (sorry dont know your name yet)
My understanding is that what you describe is a staysail rig for a true cutter.  A solent does not require running backstays as the mast and deck attachment points are very close to the forestay's attacment points (usually 12-18"). Some call the boat a "slutter".  The solent rig is removable, that is, it can be detached and stowed back along the mast.  It accomplishes much the same thing as the staysail during heavy weather though, it moves the center of effort amidships reducing weather helm and heeling. It also allows the crew to set a storm jib without removing the a roller furled headsail. Thank you for your explanation and photos though, still might be able to get some design ideas from them.