Rigging a 19

Sunbird22358 · Aug 14, 2014

Matt G said:
Just purchased an 84 O'Day 19 and having trouble rigging the main sail/boom and stays correctly.
1-how tight should stays be and is there a preferred method of adjusting

2-at the end of the boom there are 2 pulleys/wheels....not sure how these are used as there is a mechanism attached to the end of boom and rear stay to allow you to let the main out.

3- there is also a 8 foot line attached about 2 feet from end of boom and not sure what this is used for.

Does the sail hold the boom up once it is raised? There is a cable release attached to the rear stay to hold the boom up during storage.

Appreciate any input from experienced riggers or o'day 19 owners.

Matt

1-The stays should be hand-tight and prefered method of adjustment is the turnbuckles.
From Manual:
Stepping the Mast:
We recommend that you get assistance in stepping the mast. Open the turnbuckles at ends of stays to half-open position. Then attach the backstay to the stern chainplate with clevis pin and cotter ring. And proceed to attach sidestays both upper and lower, to the side chainplates. The lower stays that run from the spreaders are attached to the forward part of the chainplate while the stays running from the top of the mast are attached to the aft part of the chainplate. Fig 3. Do not attach the forestay as of yet. A tabernacle is provided on the cabin top of the O’Day 19 for ease in mast stepping. With the mast in a horizontal position insert the base of mast with pin in tabernacle. Next push up and forward on the spar until the mast is in a vertical position. With one person holding the spar, attach the headstay to the stem fitting on the bow with the clevis pin and cotter ring. Fig 2. After all stays are securely attached take the slack out of the rigging and tighten. With the mast plumb in a vertical position, the headstay, back stay, and the two upper sidestays should be tightened no more than hand tight. The two lower sidestays should be taut, not hand tight.

CAUTION:It is very important that you do not tighten the stays too much, as this can cause damage to the hull and deck.
After the stays have been adjusted, take a pair of pliers; insert the cotter pins in the turnbuckles which will prevent the turnbuckle from unwinding. To be on the safe side we strongly recommend that you wire and tape the turnbuckle so it will not unwind.

2- I think those blocks (pulleys) may be part of the reefing setup, but without seeing them..... it is hard to tell.

Mainsheet rigging:
Attaching Boom to Mast:

Slip the gooseneck, which is on the forward end of the boom, in to the track on the mast.To hold up the after end of the boom, attach the tail with the snap on back stay to aft end of boom.
Take the free end of the mainsheet, thread it through the upper sheave on the block attached to the triangular plate on the backstay, bring it up through the block on the boom, then back down to the bottom sheave and thru the jam cleat. This type of mainsheet arrangement frees up the cockpit considerably. Tie a figure eight knot in the end of the mainsheet so you won’t lose it. See Fig.4

From the Manual:

Jiffy Reefing

Your mainsail can easily be reefed, as the boat is equipped with jiffy reefing. First, release the main halyard until the reefing tack cringle, approximately 4 feet up from luff, has reached the boom. Second, run line that is attached below boom and on port side of mast, up through reefing tack cringle and down to cleat used for boom Downhaul, Tighten this line and cleat. Third, tighten line that runs through reefing clew cringle and secure to cleat forward on port side of boom. Fourth, tighten halyard. Fifth, wrap the 4 short lines that run through the reef points around boom and tie off.These lines are 3/16" braid, 2' in length and are run through the reef points (small. holes in sails) tie a knot in the middle of each line on each side of the holes, let them hang down until ready for reefing.

3-Again, part of the reefing setup I suspect. (see: above answer)

4-Yes, the sail will hold up the boom once raised.

See below scans of O'DAY 19 Rigging sheet.

More on rigging tension:
Tuning: Do not overtighten stays, as mainsheet tension will dictate tension on Headstay. While sailing, the leeward stays will always go slack due to mast bend, stretching etc., so under no circumstances should you tighten them under sail.All adjustments should be made while at rest with the sails down.

avenger79 · Aug 19, 2014

hey Matt G. congrats on the purchase. It seems like only yesterday I posted this exact topic. seems like you have it figured it out from here, if you need more assistance let me know. I still have my 19, just had her out this weekend.

there is a place where you can order the "manual" for the 19. if you need PM me and I'll get you some info.

RTSKI · Nov 24, 2014

Matt - congrats. I have only sailed my 19 one season. That said: I believe one of the pulleys on the aft end of the boom is for you to tighten the mainsail with, the other is for use with the jiffy reefing system. To raise (step) the mast, I place the foot on the tabernacle on the the cabin roof (and makes it a lot easier if you insert the aft pin at that point, attach a pulley to the hardware at the bow with a line to the fore shroud, as I walk the mast up from the stern I keep tension on the line through the pulley to the forestay until the mast is straight up - then go forward and secure the forestay to the hardware at the bow, making this a one person operation.

Rigging a 19

Matt G

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Sunbird22358

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