standing rig tension

[NYSail]

Hello all,I am tuning the standing rig on my 1986 P36-2. On my last boat, I would tune the rig without a tension guage and never had a problem. With my new boat I want to be a bit more scientific about tuning. With the initial static tuning, what tension should we put on the rig in terms of a percent of breaking strength. I have a furling jib, upper, intermediates and lower shrouds. I have a Loos Pt-3 guage that indicates the absolute breaking strength of the wire.Last year I tuned the rig as I always did and she sailed well, however I want to be able to set the rig to an exact symetrical point statically and then make adjustments when out.Where do I go from here.Thanks allGreg

 

[Ed7005]

rig tuning

You may have already have this link, it is Bill Shaw's rig tuning instructions.http://pearsoninfo.net/info/tuning_the_rig_by_bill_shaw.htmEd s/v P38 Sitara

 

[MoonSailer]

A hull is flexible!!!!!

I've read that a boat's rigging is like a bow and arrow. The mast is the arrow the boat the bow and the wire the string. Too much tension can bend the boat!!! Bill Shaw recommends tightening until the shrouds are not loose on the leeward side. Also the mast if made of aluminum will expand in the summer and contract in the winter. Sooo tight winter rigging might over stress the rig in summer heat. For what it's worth I have a Loos Gauge and use it to make sure my tension is the same from side to side. But I would think a while about tensioning some percentage of the wire without considering hull flex.