h23 shroud tension?
- Thread starter C Jones
- Start date
I just do mine by feel, and by centering the mast with the outers and then straightening with the inners. I don't race, though, I suppose it might make a difference if you do. I just tighten them until I can only pull it maybe half an inch or so by hand. Not scientific but it seems to work so far.
C Jones;
As indicated, loosen shrouds and center the top of the mast to a point in the middle of the boat using a string or preferably a metal tape adjusting side to side with the uppers. Then tighten equally until you get about 3-4 inches prebend from the back of the mast where boom attaches to the line coming down from the top backside of the mast. Then look up the sail slot on back side of mast with your eyes and straighten that out by adjusting the lower shrouds. Once done, then turn the lowers equally to take out some of the prebend. Then with the your two top fingers without moving your hand, you should have about 1-2 inch pull inward on the upper shrouds. This is pretty much a good starting point that I developed over the years without any measuring tools. Then take the boat out for a test sail and it there is any slack, you will notice it. Then adjust equally the appropriate shrouds equally until that no longer is loose.
It is good to have a little weather helm. If none, rake the mast backward. If too much, rake the mast forward.
Nothing wrong with this approach and it worked well for me as a dealer. I was taught by the old school that method.
Sorry guys as I was wrong initially on the way to rake re: weather helm. I was in a hurry but have now corrected. I am guilty of sin as I have a disease sometimes call CRS.
As indicated, loosen shrouds and center the top of the mast to a point in the middle of the boat using a string or preferably a metal tape adjusting side to side with the uppers. Then tighten equally until you get about 3-4 inches prebend from the back of the mast where boom attaches to the line coming down from the top backside of the mast. Then look up the sail slot on back side of mast with your eyes and straighten that out by adjusting the lower shrouds. Once done, then turn the lowers equally to take out some of the prebend. Then with the your two top fingers without moving your hand, you should have about 1-2 inch pull inward on the upper shrouds. This is pretty much a good starting point that I developed over the years without any measuring tools. Then take the boat out for a test sail and it there is any slack, you will notice it. Then adjust equally the appropriate shrouds equally until that no longer is loose.
It is good to have a little weather helm. If none, rake the mast backward. If too much, rake the mast forward.
Nothing wrong with this approach and it worked well for me as a dealer. I was taught by the old school that method.
Sorry guys as I was wrong initially on the way to rake re: weather helm. I was in a hurry but have now corrected. I am guilty of sin as I have a disease sometimes call CRS.
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Shouldn't you rake the mast forward to reduce weather helm? Moves the center of effort up-
I bought a relatively inexpensive 100 ft tape from Harbor Freight - has a plastic loop on the end, and I attach that (and also a second safety line) to the main halyard shackle and hoist. The tape is plastic, but it does not stretch much and gives me pretty repeatable measurements, within a millimeter or two - which is more than accurate enough, I think, to center the mast.
You never want lee helm. You want a touch of weather helm, so rake it back slightly or more.
Caverun;
Thank you for seeing my mistake. I goofed on that. I was going to call but I misplaced your email. Me think the Mrs. picked it up with a pile of papers I was getting ready to go thru and shredded a bunch to include change orders for the new house. She has been around me too long. Can you resend to my personal email davecondon@mindspring.com
Thank you for seeing my mistake. I goofed on that. I was going to call but I misplaced your email. Me think the Mrs. picked it up with a pile of papers I was getting ready to go thru and shredded a bunch to include change orders for the new house. She has been around me too long. Can you resend to my personal email davecondon@mindspring.com
Have fun sir. I am looking to go back and sail with Kermit this summer and at SML one day. Hope you will have fun this weekend. For now, my sailing will be the wee little one or small daysailor in the bathtub.
dave
dave
Sailed last night in 6-9 knots for about 6 hours. Everything seems fine and tuned correctly. We had 6 adults aboard and ran aground in a unmarked shallow area in our low lake. 3 of us went down the swim ladder and pushed us 100' back into deeper water. My Idasailer rudder started bumping bottom and I turn to deeper water before the keel hit the clay bottom. No damage, no one hurt. Just another adventure