Mainstay tension

[Fred]

I have recently purchaced a 1987 Hunter 23. The Mainstays seemed to be loose when the boat is rigged. Thew former owner said that that is the way they should be. But I didn't think there should be slack in the stays. Is there any way to determine the corect tension on the forestay and mainstays?

 

[rickito]

Turnbuckle use

I just think you should tighten the turnbuckles so the mast is supported firmly, of course the leeward stay will be loose when beating to windward, but I wouldn't have the mast able to move around, even a smiggeon by having the stays loose. Anyways, they will work themselves looser, faster if not tightened firmly. I've sailed small boats all my life, and I want that mast supported with a slight firmness to the stays.

 

[David11054]

Leeward stays should never be loose

If a stay of loose at all, the mast will shift in a tack or gybe to take up the looseness. The resulting shock loading of the stays (which can easily be a multiple of the steady state load) can lead to catastrophic failure of the rig.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Steve677]

Never Loose!

David is right on. You don't want your shrouds and stays loose! Purchase a Loos Tension Gauge. I have a model 90B that cost about $45 or $50 and comes with complete instructions. The best money I ever spent on my h23. Check your wire gauge and follow the chart on the back of the tension gauge. You need 10% of the maximum the wire can handle on the lower shrouds and 15% on the uppers. Mine is on the boat or I'd look at it for you. I believe the lower shrouds are at about 350 lbs. and the uppers around 500 lbs. of tension. I believe the forestay and backstay each have about 400 lbs of tension on them. She handles very well with a little weather helm, as you would like it to be. The leeward shrouds are never slack.