I am a new owner of a 1979 Oday 23. I am also a Lightning sailor and on the lightning we have specifications for the tension on the side stays Is there a rule of thumb on how much tension I should have on the upper and lower side stays for the Oday 23? Barry in Saranac
O Day 23 Rigging
- Thread starter Barry14754
- Start date
- Status
O'Day 23 Rigging
Barry, When I bought my 1986 O'Day 222 new in the Boston Boat Show, it came with a manual, but it never specified rigging tension. So, I bought a Loos Gauge and picked the lowest number that corresponded to the thickness of my upper stays which is 30. My upper stays are 1/8 inch. For my lower stays, which are 5/32" I think, I set the tension at 25. The lower stays, according to what I've read, should be a little slacker than the uppers. Years ago, I removed my chainplates and replaced them with O'Day 25 chainplates. I also beefed up my bulkhead where they attach. I'm not sure what your stays should be set at and I'd be surprised if anyone else would know for sure what it should be, but if you experiment using a tension gauge, at least your tension is going to be even all the way around and your mast is going to be straight. You don't want the stays too loose, and by the same token, you shouldn't get them too tight. They sell a real nice tension gauge that you can mount on the stay and watch it as you tighten the stay, unlike the loos Gauge which you must hold on the stay with your finger and pull it to a mark before you can read the pointer. The Loos Gauge is selling for about $70 bucks at West Marine now, which is highway robbery. I don't think I paid more than $20 for it when I bought it years ago. Last year, I saw a large Loos Gauge in a marine consignment store in Newport RI for $5.00. So go figure. Anyway, the tension gauge works for me. Joe
Barry, When I bought my 1986 O'Day 222 new in the Boston Boat Show, it came with a manual, but it never specified rigging tension. So, I bought a Loos Gauge and picked the lowest number that corresponded to the thickness of my upper stays which is 30. My upper stays are 1/8 inch. For my lower stays, which are 5/32" I think, I set the tension at 25. The lower stays, according to what I've read, should be a little slacker than the uppers. Years ago, I removed my chainplates and replaced them with O'Day 25 chainplates. I also beefed up my bulkhead where they attach. I'm not sure what your stays should be set at and I'd be surprised if anyone else would know for sure what it should be, but if you experiment using a tension gauge, at least your tension is going to be even all the way around and your mast is going to be straight. You don't want the stays too loose, and by the same token, you shouldn't get them too tight. They sell a real nice tension gauge that you can mount on the stay and watch it as you tighten the stay, unlike the loos Gauge which you must hold on the stay with your finger and pull it to a mark before you can read the pointer. The Loos Gauge is selling for about $70 bucks at West Marine now, which is highway robbery. I don't think I paid more than $20 for it when I bought it years ago. Last year, I saw a large Loos Gauge in a marine consignment store in Newport RI for $5.00. So go figure. Anyway, the tension gauge works for me. Joe
Thanks
Joe: Thanks for your comments, I have one of the stick on guages and I do have the stays all at an equal tension, I just did not know what that tension should be. I like your idea of setting the tension at the lowest readable level. Why did you change chain plates? That sounds like a big job. Barry
Joe: Thanks for your comments, I have one of the stick on guages and I do have the stays all at an equal tension, I just did not know what that tension should be. I like your idea of setting the tension at the lowest readable level. Why did you change chain plates? That sounds like a big job. Barry
- Status