shrouds/stays

[Brian Hofler]

Hi All,

I am going about my running and standing rigging to
place repairs and replacements as needed and am
wondering just how tight the shrouds and stays should
be for safe sailing? I've talked to other boaters and
tested the tension on other boats by hand and have
come away with no single consensus. For example, how
far out should I be able to pull the stays by hand in
dock?

Thanks,
Scott

"Tiare"
#170.

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[reefmagnet]

About 800-900 lbs for cruising. Its all a matter of feel if you don't have the tool that measures taughtness.
dave
V3233

 

[reefmagnet]

The Vega Handbook by our patron saint Per Brohall address shroud tension.
Cap shrouds and for-shroud should be tensioned hard rear shroud hand tight.
Stays somewhat hard. Given deck stepped and beam supported mast, it is
probably a good idea not to overtension rig, error on side of too lose not
too tight. Be sure to install siezing wire or codder pins in your
turnbuckles. In some recent moderately heavy weather sailing, 30kt and
6-8ft seas, hear on Lake Michigan my rear hand tightened shroud turnbuckles
loosened and the turnbuckle parted and was lost overboard.

Let me also give testimonial on how wonderfully the Vega sails in such
conditions. Made about 6kt under double reef and about 50% reef on roller
jib and about 4kt of drift when hove to. Boat was reasonably dry(I really
did appreciate my spray dodger though) and totally under control. Windward
performance does suffer a little though you can still beat at closer the a
close reach(could not be done with former boat).

Steve, V710, "Windhover"

 

[reefmagnet]

Dear Scott,

There is one exception to this rule in my opinion.
There are three side stays on each side of the mast. The 2 back stays of
those should no be so tight, because then the mast becomes imovable and
thats limits your speed considerably. I did a lot of racing with my
Vega and I was explained this.

Regards, Henk Jansen
Vega V1782
Naarden The Netherlands.