PUMP IT

If you’re a racer or performance-minded cruiser you’ll want to get the best out of your boat and its sails, which means you’ll need some way of adjusting backstay tension to get the sag out of the forestay and flatten the mainsail for better pointing. Selden’s new HTI hydraulic backstay tensioner is a stylish and efficient means of achieving that desirable end. It offers an automatic two-speed function that lets you achieve the desired backstay tension with fewer pumps of the handle; once a preset tension is achieved, the pump shifts to a lower gear for fine tuning. An adjustable relief valve prevents the backstay from being over-tensioned and possibly damaging the boat or rig. Another nice feature is that the gauge is located at the top of the unit where it can be checked at a glance, rather than at the bottom.
$2,215. Selden Mast, seldenmast.com
August 2017