Droopy shrouds

[Dick Westwood]

I tried this on the Cal site, and got some good input, but wanted to get some broader thoughts.While sailing my Cal 20 last weekend, my starboard upper shroud went slack. Looking aloft, it was clear that the spreader was angled downwards, maybe 10 degrees, towards the deck.Before I take her out again, I obviously want to fix this. All advice welcome, especially before I go aloft! At this point (from the dock), it looks as though the spreader brackets (that bolt into the mast) are ok. The spreaders themselves bolt into these brackets. Is it a matter of tightening those spreader-bracket bolts? Or should I just tape the spreader ends to the shrouds?And, while we're about it: how do I know how much shroud tension I need? I called North Sails, who told me that the tensions on a Cal 20 standing rigging are too little to register on a loos gauge. So I don't know how much is too little, how much too much.Thanks in advance for all your help, everyone.Dick

 

[Steve A.]

Don't use tape . . .

. . . to try to hold a spreader in place. Although you can use tape to protect your sails from rubbing the end of your spreader. Look at the tip of your spreader (see pic of mine) to see if there is a fitting that clamps down on the shrouds to hold the end of the spreader firmly. I have seen guys standing on the spreaders without them drooping. Also check the spreader to mast connections very carefully -- if a spreader goes, your mast will probably follow!

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Slack's not good

But you can certainly saile with it. Shadetree mechanics can tighten the shrouds accurately, but as with cutlass bearings I recommend the yard expert instead. And it's well worth the expense, since you'll sail faster and point better. The improvement can be remarkable. People will think you've improved your sailing skills!

 

[Jim Schaff]

On My Hunter

On a Hunter 26 that I used to own, when I took the mast down and secured everything for the highway, my shrouds would sometimes slip a little through the spreaders. When I put the mast up, before things got real tight, I'd tap the spreader up or pull it down with a boat hook until the spreader looked level from a distance. I finally put a little paint on the shroud where it should meet the spreader to make the job easier. I probably should have replaced some hardware so it wouldn't have slipped anymore.Jim Schaffs/v Savannah

 

[Joe]

mast tuning

Here's a link that will help you.