Standing Rigging Tension

[Ken Palmer]

Here it is, that time of year again when the boat goes back in the water and the mast is stepped. I step my own mast on my 1981 H33, and wonder every year what the shroud tension should be. I have looked in the owners manual, and it isn't listed there. Shroud O.D. is 1/4 inch. Any figures out there?Ken, S/V Liberty

 

[Sam Lust]

Get a gage

Plain and simple: Break down and buy yourself a Loos rig tension gauge. It is one of the best investments you can make. With the minimal, but effective instuctions they provide and a basic understanding of how the rig works you will get excelent results. I have used one since I got my 33 and I'm amazed how mush I've learned by esing it and how much better thew rig feels. You state the you step your own mast. If you're actually doing the physical work I'd love to know what king of rig you've come up to do it. My boat is docked in a communal area and there are certain limitations. Like no power, and I can't set a pole in the ground, and there are no convenient bridges or trees nearby. My most workable idea so far is to build an "A" frame rig on one of my trailers. I'd love to know if anyone else has done anything like this or has any other neat ideas.

 

[Guest]

Tension

The tension for 1/4 inch wire is recommend to be 20% of the breaking strength of the wire on a Hunter 30.

 

[Ken Palmer]

I have a Loos Gage

I have an older version of the Loos Gage, and it works just fine. However, it doesn't recommend the correct tension, it only reads what you actually have. The 20% figure sounds correct. Now I need to find the breaking point of 1/4 inch cable.I belong to the Genesee Yacht Club, and they have a manually operated gin pole. Perhaps I'll snap a couple pictures of it in operation this weekend and post them here on HOW. I do have one shot from last week on my own web site at http://home.rochester.rr.com/kpalmer/Ken, S/V Liberty