When I'm sailing up wind in a stiff breeze my leeward shrouds are advisably loose. I can swing them 4-5" side-to-side. Is that normal? The boat is a 2011 Beneteau First 40.
Thanks, Mark
Thanks, Mark
Loose Leeward Shrouds
- Thread starter Elation
- Start date
Your description, assuming say 15 kts. breeze, seems a little looser than I'd be comfortable with Mark. Now, different folks like different tunes, San Diego tunes loose for speed in light airs, San Francisco tunes tight for gusty stronger winds.
Usual to start a "static" tune at the dock setting to 10% of the wire strength with a Loos gauge. Then you observe what happens in a stiff breeze like you did, and adjust both sides equal till that slack is where you like it.
Usual to start a "static" tune at the dock setting to 10% of the wire strength with a Loos gauge. Then you observe what happens in a stiff breeze like you did, and adjust both sides equal till that slack is where you like it.
Another simple way to do it without using a gauge is to tighten the loose shrouds while they are loose halfway to "tighter", then tack and do the other side. It's a process, not a one step deal.
Mark, while you are out sailing in a stiff wind have someone who can handle the boat put her on a close reach. Go to the front of the mast and sight up. Tack over and sight up again. That will tell you what is going on with the mast. With that knowledge and help from any source on tuning a rig you should be able to get a start on correcting any problem with the tuning. With such slack lee shrouds, when you tack over the load generated on the now windward shrouds could cause a rig failure and it won't be pretty. It's time consuming but something that needs to be done. Take your time, don't hurry it. But, do it. It's way easier to tuna fish than it is to tune a rig. Good luck.
- Roland
s/v Fraulein II
- Roland
s/v Fraulein II
Excellent guide from Selden. See page 31-32 for how to tension.
http://www.seldenmast.com/files/1416926327/595-540-E.pdf
http://www.seldenmast.com/files/1416926327/595-540-E.pdf
It is normal for the leeward shrouds to loose tension on a stiff breeze and 4" to 5" inches of slack under hand pressure is not out of the ordinary. I check ours every time as I pull the boat close to the dock by the shrouds and there should be no slack at that time.
From what I've read over the years, assuming you have rough tuned the mast at the dock with a loos gage, in 12 knots of wind tack side to side and tighten the loose shrouds a turn each time until you don't have slack in 12 knots of wind. Then lock them down. In heavier winds the leeward shrouds will be a little loose and as Gunni points out you are probably overpowering the boat and need to reef at that point.
Only trouble with this method is how to order up a steady 12 knots of wind for your adjustments.
Once you do get it adjusted though you can use the loos gage to measure the tuned tightness of each shroud and write it in a log book so next time the mast is stepped you know where it should be to get it close, I'd still do a dynamic tuning while under sail though.
Only trouble with this method is how to order up a steady 12 knots of wind for your adjustments.
Once you do get it adjusted though you can use the loos gage to measure the tuned tightness of each shroud and write it in a log book so next time the mast is stepped you know where it should be to get it close, I'd still do a dynamic tuning while under sail though.
Nice boat.
That's too loose.
A first 40 should use different rig tensions in 6 knot wind bands for ideal performance. See the north tuning guide.
We adjust ours every time we go out. If you go with one set and forget setting, use the 12-18 one.
That's too loose.
A first 40 should use different rig tensions in 6 knot wind bands for ideal performance. See the north tuning guide.
We adjust ours every time we go out. If you go with one set and forget setting, use the 12-18 one.