I couldn't find the post but somebody posted that the deck was lifting
at the mast. Here is something to think about. Back when the vega was
designed she was a wooden boat. Now on wooden boats you don't keep the
shrouds tight because it will open up the planks. If You wanted to race
you tightened the shrouds before racing and loosened them afterwards. I
bet that everyone on this list including myself has their lower shrouds
too tight. As Your boat sets for years with the lowers banjo tight the
bulkhead being wood begins to comppress crossways the boat. Thats what
wood dose under compression. Now the deck is curved and as the boat
narrows through compression the deck raises. The mast pushing down in
the middle means an opening appears on one or both sides. I don't think
tight lowers adds hardly anything to the way the boat sails and if it
does we can all tighten them a little before we go for a sail. The
uppers using spreaders pull the hull inward little to none so I am
guessing loosen the lowers for a few years and
see. Doug
at the mast. Here is something to think about. Back when the vega was
designed she was a wooden boat. Now on wooden boats you don't keep the
shrouds tight because it will open up the planks. If You wanted to race
you tightened the shrouds before racing and loosened them afterwards. I
bet that everyone on this list including myself has their lower shrouds
too tight. As Your boat sets for years with the lowers banjo tight the
bulkhead being wood begins to comppress crossways the boat. Thats what
wood dose under compression. Now the deck is curved and as the boat
narrows through compression the deck raises. The mast pushing down in
the middle means an opening appears on one or both sides. I don't think
tight lowers adds hardly anything to the way the boat sails and if it
does we can all tighten them a little before we go for a sail. The
uppers using spreaders pull the hull inward little to none so I am
guessing loosen the lowers for a few years and
see. Doug