On my 18.5 while sailing the leeward(?) shrouds are noticeably slack. Is this right or correct? I'd guess they are original but have no way of knowing for definite. I do not have a Loos gauge.
Shrouds
- Thread starter RDS2012
- Start date
YA need a friend to work this one and do it before the beers are opened. first make sure the mast is vertical. Then, sail one tack .. tighten the loose shrouds until they are just barely not flopping..still loose, but not flopping.. tack the boat over and do the same on the other side shrouds. Check to make sure the mast is still vertical.. then tighten one more turn on both sides. Probably more loose than the Loos would take you, but is fine for keeping the lee side from flopping and impact loading the terminals. The threads can be marked with a dot of paint so you can go back to the same place next time ..
Tensioning has been discussed before but no there should be no slack in the shrouds.
The first thing to do is lossen the shrouds and then take a line or measuring tape to the main halyard and raise it. Check the side measurements to insure the top of the mast is in the middle. If not, then tensions the upper shrouds to put the top of the mast in the middle. Then equally tighten the shroud turnbuckles until you get some prebend. With some weight attached to the main halyard, see if the prebend is about 3-4 inches from the back of the mast to the line where the boom generally is attached to the mast.
Then take the lower shrouds and first straighten up the mast long ways up by sighting up the sail track with your eye. Then tighten equally to take some of the prebend out. Without any gauge, then take your two top fingers without moving your hand, pull back on the upper shroud and if you get about 1-2 inches pulling back, then you are in the ball park.
Then sail and check the shrouds.
The first thing to do is lossen the shrouds and then take a line or measuring tape to the main halyard and raise it. Check the side measurements to insure the top of the mast is in the middle. If not, then tensions the upper shrouds to put the top of the mast in the middle. Then equally tighten the shroud turnbuckles until you get some prebend. With some weight attached to the main halyard, see if the prebend is about 3-4 inches from the back of the mast to the line where the boom generally is attached to the mast.
Then take the lower shrouds and first straighten up the mast long ways up by sighting up the sail track with your eye. Then tighten equally to take some of the prebend out. Without any gauge, then take your two top fingers without moving your hand, pull back on the upper shroud and if you get about 1-2 inches pulling back, then you are in the ball park.
Then sail and check the shrouds.
Isaksp00;
Thank you for the kind comments. You should have seen me in the beginning tuning which was a fiasco but an old salty seadog sailor showed me how without use of tensioning machines or gear. Use to go many places to tune over the years and only if you knew who but that is for me to know only as I keep private those whom I helped. My request was two helpers, privacy and a carton of coors light. Gosh, have I become that old snarly seadog? Take care my friend.
Thank you for the kind comments. You should have seen me in the beginning tuning which was a fiasco but an old salty seadog sailor showed me how without use of tensioning machines or gear. Use to go many places to tune over the years and only if you knew who but that is for me to know only as I keep private those whom I helped. My request was two helpers, privacy and a carton of coors light. Gosh, have I become that old snarly seadog? Take care my friend.