Check stays, anybody using those

[Anton Devcic]

My (for me new) boat has set of check stays ? It is 1996 92 classic . 

What is consensus, experience with those? Do I need them or can we remove them for the simplicity sake?

[Ragtime!]

They're actually running backstays - checkstays would attach much lower on the mast.  I experimented with mine early-on to try to improve headstay tension, without much success.  I took them off.

[Anton Devcic]

They are check stays ( aprox middle of the mast)
Friend of my had them on MH J29. We used them but I am not sure there was a difference. Maybe improved control of the middle of the mast?
Anybody else using them?

[Josh Reisberg]

I use them on my Mini to provide mast support mid-mast when two reefs are tucked in. Don’t use for shaping or support under full main.

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[Ragtime!]

Is it a stock Hall Spar?  Mine attach just above the hounds so they have almost no effect on mast bend.

[Anton Devcic]

It is standard Hall spar. They are wire check stays and somewhere around middle of the mast. I think I will take them off!

[John Madey]

Had them, added way too much complexity to an otherwise simple boat and did not notice any performance difference

Took them off. I was going to modify and re-install them as lazy jacks. Anyone do that?

John

> On May 20, 2016, at 11:37 AM, Anton Devcic <antond...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> It is standard Hall spar. They are wire check stays and somewhere around middle of the mast. I think I will take them off!
>

[Ragtime!]

I'm also racing on a J/125 right now.  It's one with the un-reinforced mast and the checkstays are essential for shaping the main.  You pump up the backstay to get headstay tension but that inverts the main, so then you grind on some checkstay until the main looks right again.

This could also work on the 92 for a long, breezy upwind leg, especially if you have a main that's too full or not cut quite right for the mast bend (as many of them were).  Mine were runners but checkstays could be helpful in the right conditions.  I wouldn't throw them away until you've sailed the boat a bit.

[Anton Devcic]

False alarm!
Sorry guys. It turns out that lines that I Had attached to the Middle Of the mast are Lazy Jacks.
Pro and cons of the check stays for J92 frac rig are still valid and maybe we should be using them ( or maybe/probably not)??

[Todd Aven]

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