Rig tuning

[Randy Church]

Rig tuning questions and concerns

To all,

Retuned the rig this past weekend and set all the rigging at the recommended tension of no more than 20% tension using a Loos gauge. 1/4" is 40/41 and 9/32 is at 45/46. Sailing tonight and the leward shrouds go slack on both tacks. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

Randy

 

[Allan12210]

To all,

Retuned the rig this past weekend and set all the rigging at the recommended tension of no more than 20% tension using a Loos gauge. 1/4" is 40/41 and 9/32 is at 45/46. Sailing tonight and the leward shrouds go slack on both tacks. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

Randy

Depends on the wind strength. Was it blowing really hard when you tested for slack? Normally to adjust I sail close hauled in about 10 knots of wind. Tighten the leeward shrouds no more than 1/2 what it would take to remove all the slack. Then tack the boat and tighten the new leeward shrouds exactly the same number of turns. This keeps tension on both sides equal and the mast then hopefully vertical and straight. Then tack again and check for slack. Again, 1/2 the required tension until the final tack back to the original side (where both sides were adjusted equally) shows no slack.

Oh, and before I forget, how is your compression post/overhead fiberglass beam? Any signs of deformation inside the boat above the post?

Allan

 

[Randy Church]

Allan,

I did the compression post repair a few years back. We were planning on doing the tightening while sailing, but my concern is once we make further tightening adjustments, we'll be exceeding the 20% of the breaking strength since we are there now according to the LOOS gauge.

Randy

 

[Allan12210]

Randy,

Glad your post is solid. Wouldn't want that to complicate things. In my case I've never had the benefit of the tension gauge. I juat had to do it manually. Even so once the wind is up to 15+ knots, the leward shrouds are slack. When you observed this what was the wind speed? If not above 10 I might question the gauge. If higher than that its probably correct.

Just for info...20% of breaking strength is 5x safety factor.

Allan

 

[David in Sandusky]

No slack!

Tighten the shrouds equally until you have no slack to leeward in any wind.

Slack shrouds mean you can shock load the rig in a tack, gybe, or round-up. That's the real danger.