Here is what the Oday 23 manual says ....
The manual paged which have been uploaded here are a little difficult to read so this is what they say I assume you ahve raised the mast ************************ .......... With one person holding the spar, (mast) attach the backstay to the stern chainplate on the transom with the clevis pin and cotter ring. After all the stays are securely attached, take the slack out of the rigging and tighten. With the mast plumb (in a vertical position), the headstay, back stay, and the two upper sidestays should be tighteeened no more than hand tight. The two lower sidestays should just be taut, not hand tight. Caution: It is very important that you do not tighten the stays too much, as this can cause damage to the hull ********************************** I have decent, readable electronic copy of the manual whcih I can forward to you if you post your e-mail. Hope this helps. I have an O'Day 23 and we just lauched last week and raised the mast. I think the most important thing is to get the mast plumb, I do not race so do not try yo bend the mast or any of the other "tricks" you can play to improve sail shape. I try to get the tension even and make sure the cotter pins, split rings or whatever you use are in place to prevent the stay loosening -I had a mast break while under sail and the words uttered by my friend who was on the helm still haunt us ...... I don't think the mast is supposed to bend like like that .... said just as there was a huge crack and the rig came down. I have a loos gauge and just try to make the tension the same in the port and starboard. James.
