23.5 Rigging

[Alan Long]

Hi all,What size is the rigging on your 23.5? My owners manual for 1994 says 1/8", but my measurements say it is 5/32". I want to tune the rigging and the tension settings for 5/32 are considerably higher than 1/8.Also...I know its been discussed before, but I can't seem to find specific numbers for setting the tension and rake. Is 20% of breaking strengh for the uppers, 10% for the lowers with 4 inches of mast rake measured at the boom correct? And one more thing. When I measure rake, with the boat on the trailer I place a level on the mast step and adjust the trailer jack until the mast step is perfecly level along the bow/stern axis. Is that correct?Thanks.Alan LongS/V Random Access (1994 23.5)

 

[Dave Brown]

Mast Rake

Sir; I have a 1993 model 23.5. I tune it A little lighter than most.I've seen others that have OVER tuned there hunters, and its not good!!I set the boat up with a slight aft rake. ( Measured when the boats in the water. ) I put a small weight on the main halyard, and adjust the rakeuntill the weight is 4" to 6" away from the mast at the point where the boomnormally attachs to the mast. then adjust the side stays and for stay, untill(I adjust them, by feel,) I stand by the mast, then grab both side stays at once, then pull them inboard. I'm good when thay both move in 2" at the same time! The same goes for the jumper wires. Ya I know; this is not what you asked, and I have never put a scale to it to know the Lbs of pull.But I can tell you to look down the rub rail- from back to frount,( on the haul ) after you have adjusted the wires, your way. and look to see how far you have pulled, "deflected the rail" ( where the wires attach to the boat )upward. Put a straigh edge on it, if its more than 1/4" start backing the wires off. I'v sailed with a kind of lose rig for 7 years, and done real well in the races as well. Try it , dont over sheet, and keep the boat at 17 deg. Good luckDave B.Nebr.