[QUOTE=blackmagic;3103]I am brand new Catalina 36 owner. So new that I have never sailed the boat. It is now in storage in Maine. I am in the process of making a list of projects to do before I put the boat back in the water come Memorial Day. One of the things I am considering adding is adding a backstay adjuster based on the Practical Sailor review that recommended installing one to prevent headsail sagging.

Has anyone installed a backstay adjuster and how much did it improve the performance of the boat. Also, would like to know what brand does the group think works best.

Your input would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]

I discussed a backstay adjuster with my rigger and he didn't think there was much percentage in it for a C36. Its a masthead rig and the mast is a pretty stout criusing mast that so it won't do much for the mainsail shape.

So long as the rig is properly tuned you shouldn't have much of a problem with the headsail.

YMMV

I respectfully disagree with bb. The adjustable backstay is perfect for providing just the small amount of added tension to the forestay, even with our "telephone pole" masts. We have a Garhauer backstay fitting with a 4:1 Garhauer vang on it, works great. We moved the backstay split WAY up to eliminate the head banging from the old split. The drawing is different than the install and is meant to show moving the split up and various other ways to make an adjuster.

Don't have one on my boat yet, but I have extensive racing experience on other boats and I am certain that the C36 would benefit from a backstay adjuster. It is not for adjusting mainsail shape, it is for controlling headstay tension. I made this change on my previous Ranger 29, which also had a tree trunk of a masthead rig and it changed the boat dramatically.

Another benefit is you can sail with adequate rig tension but let the backstay off when the boat sits at the dock, which de-stresses the whole boat, and the mast step in particular.