I just completed stepping and unstepping my mast to replace the sheaves. The boat is fairly old ('82) and did not come with the manual. I need to reset my standing rigging to the proper tension. I have a tension gage available but do not know the correct values. Any resources you guys have would be appreiciated.
- Status
12%-15% is normal initial tension
for a plain vanilla 'tune'. Then go sailing on a beat and heel and see how straight the mast stays ... or not. The good thing about a gage is that once you tune precisely (no adverse mast bend when heeled, etc.) simply record those gage values to restore the 'tune' later on. If the gage is a Loos gage the %values versus wire diameter will be imprinted on the surface of gage as a table and there will be notches on the margin of the gage to correctly size the wire. Set all to 10-12%, then go sailing to see if it works to keep the mast straight. Mast prebend, etc. can be done once you get back to the dock once youre sure that the mast will be straight when sailing with the initial values (and minor corrections when underway). The gage will give you 'repeatability' for later adjustments.
for a plain vanilla 'tune'. Then go sailing on a beat and heel and see how straight the mast stays ... or not. The good thing about a gage is that once you tune precisely (no adverse mast bend when heeled, etc.) simply record those gage values to restore the 'tune' later on. If the gage is a Loos gage the %values versus wire diameter will be imprinted on the surface of gage as a table and there will be notches on the margin of the gage to correctly size the wire. Set all to 10-12%, then go sailing to see if it works to keep the mast straight. Mast prebend, etc. can be done once you get back to the dock once youre sure that the mast will be straight when sailing with the initial values (and minor corrections when underway). The gage will give you 'repeatability' for later adjustments.
- Status