A hydraulic Integral adjuster is usually used as a backstay. It is basically a hydraulic cylinder with a pump and reservoir integrated into one package. It is a completely closed all-in-one hydraulic system.

All hydraulic systems are made of three components: a pump, a reservoir, and a cylinder. Oil is drawn from the oil reservoir by the pump. The pump forces oil into the cylinder forcing the piston rod or ram into the cylinder. This is the pulling force. Often the pump is a manual pump (which we call a panel) or an electric pump (which we call a power pack).

From this point, an oil line, capable of holding high pressure, runs to a cylinder. The pump moves pressurized oil into the cylinder to force the piston rod (or ram) to move and stay in position against tension. When the pressure valve is open on the pump the oil is allowed to return through this oil line and run through the pump back into the reservoir.

The Integral combines all these components in one piece. With an Integral adjuster there are no hoses running through your boat and the pump is a part of the cylinder so it is operated where it is used.