Shroud Tension

[twodzusfittings]

The other day I noticed that when heeling the shrouds on the side that the mast was heeling to, were loose. When the boat is flat, the mast is centered (by way of measuring with the main halyard) and pretty taught. My question to the list, how slack should they get when healing?

 

[Dan Hill]

They should not be slack or loose when sailing. When tensioning your rig the last step is to go out in a modest wind and check for looseness to the leeward shrouds while sailing. Adjust both sides equally in small increments and recheck.

 

[RichH]

Leeside rigging should not be noticeably 'loose' with the boat well heeled over.

Probably the most comprehensive rig tuning guide available on the internet: http://www.riggingandsails.com/pdf/selden-tuning.pdf

 

[twodzusfittings]

Thanks for your help.

 

[shanker]

I seem to have a pretty sloppy roller furling. Is there some way to test it so I can have a figure to compare to. I purchased a Loose Gage but I can't figure out how that applies to a roller furler. Where can I find out what the tension should be and how do you set or check it.

Thanks,

 

[mr c]

I was told slack on a B&R rig was ok. Should I get mine checked?

 

[Dan Hill]

Mr C, think of it this way. If your leeward shrouds go slack or loosen under sail loading then your rig is moving from side to side. This is not acceptable imho. I wouldn't want my mast changing it's position every time I tacked. I'm on my 2nd B&R rigged boat btw. Find the tuning guide for your rig and follow their suggestions.

 

[dilligaf]

It's ok to have a little slack in the lee shrouds as long as the mast stays in column.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Shanker,

There is no measurement for the furler. Set all of the shrouds correctly and the furling bar should be very tight. There is some adjustment of the lower mounting bracket. It screws into the furling drum.

http://www.h260.com/rigging/rigging.html

 

[Jackdaw]

Shanker,

There is no measurement for the furler. Set all of the shrouds correctly and the furling bar should be very tight. There is some adjustment of the lower mounting bracket. It screws into the furling drum.

http://www.h260.com/rigging/rigging.html

On a B&R rig, after the mast is raised you must make sure the forestay is snug before doing the final tuning. This is because the B&R rig is statically tensioned and does not pull on the headstay to create rig tension. If the forestay is too loose, the rig will tension against itself when tuned and leave the forestay slack.

 

[sesmith]

Doesn't the forestay adjustment just set the mast rake before the shrouds are tensioned?

 

[Dan Hill]

Your boat, your rig, your wallet! I suggested "dilligaf" as a boat name once but was out voted by the commodore I do gaf about my rig tune so mine are never slack lol.