Stanchion shortening

By Harald ten Wolde on Tuesday, March 30, 1999 - 11:09 am:

Hi Guys!
Shortening is nice to allow you to skirt the Genoa more efficiently, a good trimmer should be able to skirt the sail without any assistance. Canting out the stanchion bases to get the stanchions at max. sheer is extremely beneficial in that: it enables the helmsman a clear view ahead ( while the crew is at full hike ), it enables the crew to get out further in heavy air...yes legally ( effectively increasing the righting moment ). Additionally the canted out bases enable a well trained crew to tack more efficiently ( by rolling the boat off the lifelines ) . Keep in mind that there are rules associated with this ( don't exit the tack faster then you entered it ) or you might get called on a kinetics infraction! As an extra, while you are canting out your stanchions, you might upgrade ( provided you have an older boat with the smaller footprint stanchion bases ) to the new big bases ( it helps to keep the crew from punching them through the deck ).
Lots of great info here guys! Good luck and best regards!
_____(\_(\_(\__(\_(\_(\(\_____(\_________________(\(\____(\________

By RHB on Tuesday, March 30, 1999 - 08:47 am:

my thoughts on cutting down your stantions are as follows. Any weight you can get off the deck and down into the bottom of your boat ( ie. corrector weights ) is a good thing. We have found that having the forward stantion cut to approx.520mm 20mm over minimum to allow for some sag in the lifeline makes it easier to get the genoa in. Having the aft station cut to minumum is to restrictive on the helmsman. When he or she sit all the way out, back facing lifelines they cannot sit out as far.We keep our aft stanchion at max height.It is far more important for crew to be out as far as possible than to save the 2lbs. ( Blind Squirrel/Team Waterline Systems )

By Ben on Sunday, March 28, 1999 - 04:53 pm:

Can the pushpit and pulpit also be shortened to 500mm?

By mark on Saturday, March 27, 1999 - 06:29 pm:

The class rules specify that "the height of the lifelines above the sheerline when measured vertically shall not be less than 500mm." You can shorten your stanchions until you hit the minimum. As I read the rule, it seems like excessive sag in the lifelines may violate the rule even if the height of the lifeline is >500mm at the pushpit, stanchions and pulpit. So either give yourself a little fudge factor, or keep the lines tight, or both.

By Jeff on Saturday, March 27, 1999 - 10:27 am:

What is the max amount we can take off of the stanchions to achieve min height?
Thanks

By Will Crump on Wednesday, March 24, 1999 - 09:35 am:

Rule 8.3 reads "No member of the crew shall station any part of his/her torso outside the upper lifeline other than temporarily,"

Even if you keep the lower lifeline, it provides no advantage for hiking. Shorten the forward stanchion to aid in skirting the genoa and so that the lifeline doesn't choke the shorter crewmembers.

As an owner/driver, keeping the boat on its feet is the best way to keep the crew on the boat. If they fall off in spite of that, perhaps they are on the wrong boat.

Fair Winds,
Will Crump

By TED WIEDEKE on Tuesday, March 23, 1999 - 11:59 pm:

TED W. I AM PROBABLY IN THE MINORITY ON THIS ONE, BUT I LIKE HAVING TWO LIFELINES. I THINK THIS HAS KEPT MY CREW ON BOARD IN HEAVY AIR ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. INCLUDING TIMES I HAVE HAD TO THROW MY LIFE RING TO PEOPLE IN THE WATER FROM OTHER BOATS.

By Chris Morlan on Friday, March 19, 1999 - 11:06 pm:

The main reason to shorten them is to allow the genoa to skirt itself more easily. Some people only shorten the forward ones for that reason. The drawback to shortening is that it is not really feasible to have a lower lifeline, which restricts hiking somewhat.

By jzinn on Friday, March 19, 1999 - 07:34 pm:

Is there any advantage to shortening your stantions?