Standing Rigging On 1975 H27

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bsavulis

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Dec 2, 2006
28
Ranger 33 Putnam
I have a 1975 H27 that has the mast un-stepped each fall and re-stepped in the spring. (I store it inside a warehouse) The boat movers just set the mast on the boat, they do not "tune" the rig. My dock-mate recently remarked that my mast leans forward quite a bit, and it must be very poor pointing into the wind. I don't notice any lean myself.
I have never bothered to make any precise adjustments each spring besides making sure the stay turnbuckles were turned down fairly equal and seemed to have the same tension.
I am wondering how would I check to see if my mast is properly aligned and would it really make that much of a difference? Do I really need to layout the $$ for a tension gauge?
I can use a tape measure on a halyard for the port/starboard alignment, but how would I do fore/aft?

Thanks!
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
You can use an aft halyard to haul up a plumb. I really don't know what the bend and rake should be for an H27. Heck, I don't even know what it is for my own boat. But I know the plumb should fall at least six to twelve inches behind the mast.

As for tension I sail and gradually take the slack out of the leeward shrouds. One tack and take a half turn, then the other tack with half a turn on the other side. Do this gradually until the leeward shrouds are snug on both tacks. Then check that the mast is still in column and has the same rake when you get back to the dock.
 
Manny

Manny

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Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
I have the rake on mine set pretty much vertical (with the fresh water tank full). I know I lose pointing ability but I have dialed out much of the weather helm the boat has. Once I get a new main I may start raking it back slowly. And yes, I could tell a difference after tuning the rig. I used the same method Ed described for tuning, as far as the fore and rear stays I could tell if those were to loose by the amount of bend on the forestay when sailing, and if there was any mast pumping.

M
 
rardiH36

rardiH36

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Jun 21, 2007
2,117
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
The attached pdf is for me the most straight forward DIY rigging tuning instruction for traditional masthead rigs I've come across.
 

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Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Nice Rardi, thanx. Just saved that in my "Boat" folder for PDFs. Now to remember that it is in there.
 
rardiH36

rardiH36

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Jun 21, 2007
2,117
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
Hi Ed:

One item that was great for me at least in the pdf is the description that the aft lower shrouds are supposed to have less tension than the forward ones. I had observed this on my boat when I bought it (first boat so I was new to everything), but nonetheless thought something was wrong with my attempts at rig tuning when I couldn't correct the tension imbalance without the mast bending towards the aft in the middle. Exactly opposite of the little bit of desirable forward pre-bend that I read about. I never saw any info on this in other rig tuning instruction sheets. So the reference in Kemp Sails' Tuning pdf was really good to know. Also the comment that it is virtually impossible to over-tighten the shrouds with standard hand tools was useful. For me that means its ok to tension the forward lower shrouds really tight with my 12" wrenches and not worry too much about spending $'s for a Loos guage to avoid over-tightening. Yeah!

rardi
 
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