Hunter 260 rig tension

[Stan Chapman]

Can someone tell me the proper tension for the rigging of a 260? I see a slight curve in my mast and want to correct that if I can. Thanks!

 

[Jeff Peltier]

Rig info

Hopefully that slight bend is for and aft and not side to side. Most people seem to agree that a 4-5" prebend for and aft is about right. My notes on shroud tensioning are on the boat which is put away for the year, but a rule of thumb is 20% of the breaking strength. If you do a search, I know the numbers have been discussed here in the past. The B&R rig has a little different way of coming up with prebend and here is a good article that describes it. http://www.hunterowners.com/ref/br.htmlHope that helps,Jeff Peltier

 

[Mike]

Mast Bend

The mast should have bend or "rake". The generally agreed on amount is 6" at the goosenech for the H260. If you put a weight or plumb bob on the Main halyard, the measured distance from the mast (measured at the gooseneck) to the weight, measured aft,should be about 6". One you have the rake you can adjust tension. Somewhere in the archives is a grat "how to" on this subject.

 

[Jeff Peltier]

bend & rake

I'd like to clairify something Mike said. Mast rake and Mast bend are two different things. Mast rake, being the amount the top of the mast is back from the point where the boom is attatched and like Mike said, about 6". Mast bend in the amount the center of the mast is pushed forward compaired to the top and bottom and 4-5" is a common number. The cut of the sail, condition of the sail and typical wind conditions all have an impact on the actual amount of each you would want.Jeff Peltier

 

[Mark]

Here we go again

But its great cos it keeps everyone on their toes.Yes mast bend and rake are two very different things.Mast "pre-bend" is set by winding up the reverse diagonals. A rough guide is 1% of distance from gooseneck to tip of mast should be the bend and you measure this by attaching the main halyard to the goose neck and pulling it reasonably tight and putting the ruler half way along the mast. This will suit most sails particulary original Doyle sails. By the way this is best done with the mast lying down.Then you set the rake. Yep a weight on the end of the main halyard should swing about 5-6 inches aft of the mast at boom height.But once you set the rake "do not adjust the forestay again".Wind up the uppers evenly (cos you have centered the mast haven't you?) untill they are pretty tight and then wind up the lowers evenly making sure that the mast stays staight looking bow to stern.Lots of fun and something we all mess with a lot from time to time.Regards

 

[Jeff Peltier]

And again

I'm glad you said what I just said in a different way, although that assumes every sail is cut equally, which we know, in the racing world isn't so.

 

[Mark]

Funny isn't it

We mess around with this and that and everything else to get our yachts to sail fast.Mmmmmmmmmm Imagine if we owned a maxi?There would be little time left for sailing!