EZ Mast Tuning

[Alan Long]

Whats the best way to set mast rake? I know the one about using the main halyard and noting where it touches the deck, but it seems to me that depends on whether the boat is sitting level. Also, do I need an instrument to determine proper shroud tension? Seems that if I get the shrouds so that they don'd go limp on the downwind side, the forestay is so tight that I can't release it when it time to trailer. I'm not a racer, just a cruiser. Absolute optimum settings are not my goal, just getting things safe and easy to handle so I don't spill my Dark and Stormy. Any words of wisdom?Alan LongS/V Random Access (1994 23.5)

 

[Tom Adams]

h240 tuning

I purchased a new h240 in 1998. After the first few months, the standing rigging started to stretch. I tryed to tune the rigging myself and never felt comfortable about it. This past season while sailing in the middle of Lake Superior, the two outside shrouds became very loose. I once again tightened the rigging. The boat never sailed the same again. In August, I finally took the boat to my dealer and had them tune the rigging. It cost me $50 and they had "experts" there that did the job in about an hour. The boat sailed like new again. They said that the stretching is most likely done. However, if the rigging ever needs tuned again, I will not try to attempt it. One thing they told me is that with the h240, a little tuning moves alot of the mast. In other words, I screwed it up! Now, there may be some people out there who know what they are doing and could probably tell you how to do it. I am convinced that when it comes to the standing rigging, leave it to the professionals. Just a suggestion. Good Luck!

 

[Michael Bell]

Archives

Might want to check the archives.There as been a lot of discussion on this topic in the past couple of months.