Problem with Rigging

NYSail · Feb 25, 2011

If nothing is changed with the rigging size, then something went wrong when they stepped the mast. Seems to me. Keel stepped? I have the ability with my Pearson to move the mast forward or aft on my mast step... maybe they sat it wrong. My yard attaches the fore and back-stays first.... don't know if thats the right way, just see them doing it that way.

Good Luck

Randylb · Feb 25, 2011

try loosening the forward side stays and tightening the rear side stays to see if that moves it back enough. Also double check that you are in the proper hole and proper tang for the forestay. I had a c30 that had to be stepped and unstepped every year, getting the backstary connected was always a bit of a pain

GKuffner · Feb 25, 2011

Check that the forestay tang isn't kinked at the top of the mast. It can happen when you step the mast and would shorten the back stay by the amount that you mentioned.

Gary

Bill Roosa · Feb 25, 2011

Has it been on the hard for some time. It could be that the boat is "bent" from being only supported by the keel. As it relaxes the dimensions of the boat will change back. Give it a few days.

DianaOfBurlington · Feb 25, 2011

The forestay or backstay upper toggles could also be 'flipped' (rolled and thus kinked) and the more you tighten the more you will exacerbate the kink, potentially destroying the 1x19 cable. Try loosening ALL the uppers and shaking the fore and backstays to see if one 'magically' becomes longer.

If that isn't successful, or if you know it's not the problem, then set the forestay and aft lowers alone (the way you should always start) and then add rake (aftwards lean) till the backstay aligns. Many people do not adequately apply mast rake.

The rake problem is made worse by headsail furlers. Many people do not check the adjustment of the forestay TB till the mast is up and access to the TB requires sliding up the drum and sometimes part of the foil. Then the lazy will deny this could account for anything because it's such a hassle to get to and pretend the problem is something else (sorry if I sound cynical but I have seen this MANY times. It's not a houseboat; don't live in De Nile). The headsail furler also adds a lot of (too much) weight inevitably causing headstay sag, which also causes the backstay to be too tight or too short. Getting the headstay right before setting anything else is VITAL... and when it's all wrong later, blame the furler again and get under there to adjust it then too.

And a tight forestay will help you point better too.

KMm · Feb 26, 2011

I agree had the same thing happen on one of my Cat 27's it got twisted at the mast head.

Roger Long · Feb 27, 2011

chelsabella said:
see how she sails with the ring acting as the bridge???????

The drag of the rig in the water trailing over the side might slow her down a bit. The adjuster ring isn't made to take anywhere near the strain of the backstay itself. If you haven't figured this out by now, you need a rigger; not a forum.

NYSail · Feb 28, 2011

Maybe you lost a piece of rigging that attaches to the fore - or backstay?

I agree with Roger... if you can't see what is the matter a rigger should be consulted as this would just not happen. There is a cause and that should be found out.

PrincessoftheLake · Feb 28, 2011

I don't have anything useful to add other than to say getting a professional rigger in to tune the rigging is well worth it. While I understand in theory how the rig should be set I don't feel all that confident doing it. So when I got the guy to do my furler repair last spring he set the rig for me too. The boat sailed a lot better after that.

DianaOfBurlington · Mar 4, 2011

I know of no reason why you would not have a turnbuckle on the forestay. NO respectable furling system would preclude the use of one nor its adjustment (and the old Hoods were excellent and lent a lot of overkill-- remember Hood practically invented the roller-furler). Maybe the turnbuckle is under there and just appears to be a pain to get to. This is what I said earlier.

Reasons the backstay would appear too short:
1. The forestay TB is taken up too tight.
2. The forward lowers are taken up too tight.
3. The maststep was moved.
4. The chainplates have been moved or changed.
5. A toggle was used in the forestay (at the top?) and is now missing.
6. You have the forward shrouds in place of the afts and vice versa.
7. The backstay has been changed such as when the split and adjuster were added.

I AM a professional rigger and this is what I would look for if I were there looking at your boat... except I would charge you $120 for the privilege of showing up. Start looking yourself before you annoy someone who might just find what you could have found if you'd looked. There isn't any magic here. Something is wrong and can be made right!

DianaOfBurlington · Mar 12, 2011

ChelseaBella -- how did you make out on this? Let us know!

RichH · Mar 12, 2011

If the mast butt doesnt fit EXACTLY in the 'shoe' on deck, ALL the rigging will be too short. Many times when stepping a deck stepped mast the butt plate, etc. will hang up and not 'slip' all-the-way into the 'shoe' connection ... and that will show up as rigging that is now 'too short'.
Look carefully at the butt end of the mast as it sits on the 'deck shoe'... and if there is a GAP between the buttplate and the shoe - thats the problem.

Alan · Mar 12, 2011

Not for nothing, but the very first thing that needs to be adjusted and set is mast rake. This is done with a slack rig, just enough to hold the mast up. Set the rake at 1 1/2% mast height by adjusting the length of the forestay. There MUST be a turnbuckle at the bottom of the stay, maybe under the furling drum. After the rake is properly set I'm quite sure the backstay will be easy to re-attach. The main halyard can be secured to one of the aft backstay points and tensioned with a winch to draw the stay closer for easy connection. Then proceed with the rest of the tuning.