Leave boat with tuned rig?

[John]

I'm wondering what most folks do when leaving the boat in a slip for a couple weeks or so - slack the rig or leave it tuned? In the past I've slacked it but this year others will be using the boat when I'm not there and I'd just assume leave it ready to go for them.And what should the initial mast rake be, if any, with a split adjustable backstay? Swing keel.John

 

[Ted]

Leave it alone . . .

The rig is fine and can stay tensioned all the time. What's the worry that urges you to loosen it in the first place?As far as rake, put about 1 or 2 degrees of rake in it.Regards,Ted

 

[tomD]

Mine is left tuned.

Once I get it tuned, it Leave it until I have to de-rig her. Does not seem to have any adverse affect, if in winter everything contracts a bit, it has never resulted in any problem on my Swingkeel C-22. I set the rake for 6 inches aft of the backside of the mast, measured along the pigtailed boom, using the halyard as a plumb bob line. Mine goes pretty well there.

 

[Brian19369]

Leave it

The slapping of the loose rigging, as the boat rocks, will to more damage than any tension caused by the rigging in a properly tuned state.Plus you don't want your guests "tuning" it for you. Good sailing,Brian

 

[John]

OK, we'll leave it

I thought I had read somewhere (probably on the internet ;-) about easing the tension on the rigging. I also wondered about things contracting with cold night time temperatures. Glad to hear of no problems. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Randy Kolb]

Easing the tension

You may have read about an adjustable backstay. With an adjustable backstay you can ease the tension on the rig when you are not sailing. I believe that is part of the description in the CD catalog.