shroud tension

[John Power]

Hi,I own a 1977 Hunter 30. I have owned it for years and have adjusted my shrouds just by feel. Is there anyone out there who knows the proper tension for both the lower shrouds and upper shrouds. I use a Loos tension gauge. I would also like to know how the head stay and back stay should be adjusted.Thanks

 

[Ian McGain]

Correct or incorrect, I check my 79 Hunter 30' several times a year and set in the middle of the tension guage for the wire diameter I set the 6 rigging lines to the same number. When I go on the hard for the winter, I pull the pins and take off the tension. The boat is not raced so this seems to work for me. In a hard blow, I have seen the leeward lines go slack but the mast still stood. I have a roller fuling for the front stay but set the split back stay also in the middle of the guage.Hope this helps.Ian

 

[Roland]

Tuning a rig

i also have a '77 h30 and have spent considerable hours trying to tune the rigging. What I discovered was that it is easier to tuna fish than tuna rig. That being said, I finally got less fanatical about it and set the back stay so the jib furler was not too tight nor too loose - watch the mast rake - and set the lower shrouds' tension a bit less than the uppers. I originally used a Loos guage to get it in the ballpark. Looked up the track - easier with a mirror - to make sure it was fairly straight. Next step is to take it out on a blustery day and put it to the test. With someone at the helm when you are hard on the wind, take a look up the mast from the front and sides. Check it out on different tacks and reaches. If you like what you see, let it be. Check the tension manually everytime you get on the boat and if no difference, you are good to go.Don't lose any sleep over it.Now, if you are going to race, well.......Hope this helps.-R.Fraulein II

 

[David Foster]

No slack!

The standard tensions ara 20 percent of the breacking strength of the cable for the uppers and 15 perdent for the lowers. I find this a little high, and have mine (a '77 h27) at around 12 percent and 8 percent respectively.But no matter how you tune them, the real criteria is that there should never be any slack on the leeward stays! Slack (usually in high wind loading) will mean shock loading in an unexpected gybe or tack. And shock loads are easily several times the standing load - enough to faile a component, or even a stay.I'll be tuning my rig again on Saturday, because I spotted a wavering capstay to leeward in some 30 knot gusts last Sunday.DavidLady Lillie