Has anyone used a tension gauge to measure the proper amount of tension on the rigging for a 381 with a roller furling main? Is your mast perfectly straight and what were tension measurements?
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Swept Back Spreaders
If the mast has swept back spreaders the forces caused by the stays will force a bend in the mast. Think of this way, the stays cannot transmit torsion at their connection with the spreaders, they can only transmit a force along the approx centerline of the axis of the spreader. The port and starbord spreaders are both pushing inward at an angle toward the centerline of the boat (looking up or down along the centerline of the mast). The resultant force pushes the mast forward. To counteract this force would require running backstays but for shorthanded sailing this is too much work. Also, it costs more to manufacture. With regard to tension measurements, I don't know these; however, if the boat is sailing to weather at, say 15 apparent, the stays on the leward side will have less tension than the weather side but should not be loose. Pushing on the leward stay will cause it to bend or deflect comparatively easy. If it is really loose the rig will definitely need to be tuned. I don't claim to be a rigger and the above is based on experience. A boat setup for racing will probably have tighter rigging than the mom and pop coastal cruiser but with swept back spreaders this will put more bend in the mast.
If the mast has swept back spreaders the forces caused by the stays will force a bend in the mast. Think of this way, the stays cannot transmit torsion at their connection with the spreaders, they can only transmit a force along the approx centerline of the axis of the spreader. The port and starbord spreaders are both pushing inward at an angle toward the centerline of the boat (looking up or down along the centerline of the mast). The resultant force pushes the mast forward. To counteract this force would require running backstays but for shorthanded sailing this is too much work. Also, it costs more to manufacture. With regard to tension measurements, I don't know these; however, if the boat is sailing to weather at, say 15 apparent, the stays on the leward side will have less tension than the weather side but should not be loose. Pushing on the leward stay will cause it to bend or deflect comparatively easy. If it is really loose the rig will definitely need to be tuned. I don't claim to be a rigger and the above is based on experience. A boat setup for racing will probably have tighter rigging than the mom and pop coastal cruiser but with swept back spreaders this will put more bend in the mast.
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