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tighten a shroud
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Looks like a closed-body turnbuckle with locknuts.
You'll need to back off the locknuts before you can adjust tension.
Using the proper open end wrench, back off the locknuts while keeping the body from rotating (should be flats on the body) with another wrench. Make sure of thread direction.
Important! When adjusting, do not allow the shroud to rotate.
Someone else will have to chime in on proper tension value.
You'll need to back off the locknuts before you can adjust tension.
Using the proper open end wrench, back off the locknuts while keeping the body from rotating (should be flats on the body) with another wrench. Make sure of thread direction.
Important! When adjusting, do not allow the shroud to rotate.
Someone else will have to chime in on proper tension value.
Looks like locking nuts on each side of the turnbuckle (middle part). You should be able to loosen the locking nuts, then turn the middle part. Use a wrench to keep the shroud itself from rotating while you turn the turnbuckle. After you’re done adjusting then tighten the locking nuts again.
How tight depends on the shroud wire size, and to some extent boat design. Generally a good place estimate is tight enough that the leeward shroud doesn’t go slack when beating into 12 knots of wind. But getting close to that before you go out will take more info.
How tight depends on the shroud wire size, and to some extent boat design. Generally a good place estimate is tight enough that the leeward shroud doesn’t go slack when beating into 12 knots of wind. But getting close to that before you go out will take more info.
Great advice here. Also, watch the mast for distortion and getting out of column. The goal is also to keep tension equal on the opposite side, as well. If the mast stays in column and is not bent either in the middle or at the top, tension should be distributed equally port and starboard.
-Will (Dragonfly)
-Will (Dragonfly)
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,440
Not having any experience with a Seagull built by Skimmer Boats, I discovered a link to their catalog. With pictures, but no rigging data, http://www.skimmarseagull.weebly.com/uploads/9/2/0/7/9207128/1968_skimmar_catalog.pdf
and few details about the boat.
Based on my experience sailing small dinghies, you will need to have an experimental attitude and discover what rigging tension helps her sail at her best.
Rigging Lido 14’s and my Montgomery 15 I discovered best performance was achieved with what was called a floppy rig. Tension was enough to keep the mast in column but with give if you grabbed the stay. It would give, not be piano wire or guitar wire tight. More like an out of tune base E string than an in tune high E String. The fractional rigged sloop had no back stay so as the hanked on jib filled the sail would have a bit of curve on the luff due to the slackness. This would create a more full powerful jib sail shape. Finding the balance was the skill. Too tight on the shrouds flattened the jib. Too loose and the mast would fall to leeward.
These small boats are great to learn sailing skills. Very forgiving. A lot of fun. Experiment with loose tension. Just not to tight. If you pluck the shroud and you hear it sing it is too tight.
The guys have identified the use of the turnbuckle. Go have fun.
and few details about the boat.
Based on my experience sailing small dinghies, you will need to have an experimental attitude and discover what rigging tension helps her sail at her best.
Rigging Lido 14’s and my Montgomery 15 I discovered best performance was achieved with what was called a floppy rig. Tension was enough to keep the mast in column but with give if you grabbed the stay. It would give, not be piano wire or guitar wire tight. More like an out of tune base E string than an in tune high E String. The fractional rigged sloop had no back stay so as the hanked on jib filled the sail would have a bit of curve on the luff due to the slackness. This would create a more full powerful jib sail shape. Finding the balance was the skill. Too tight on the shrouds flattened the jib. Too loose and the mast would fall to leeward.
These small boats are great to learn sailing skills. Very forgiving. A lot of fun. Experiment with loose tension. Just not to tight. If you pluck the shroud and you hear it sing it is too tight.
The guys have identified the use of the turnbuckle. Go have fun.
That is indeed a close-body turnbuckle. Good advice here but quite often these do not have a flat spot on the body itself but rather a hole punched through in the middle of the turnbuckle. I can't enlarge your picture but yours does look like it might have that hole.
Insert a screwdriver as large as hole will accept through the hole. Maintain turnbuckle in place and loosen-up the lock-nuts.
After you've loosened the lock-nut, put a wrench on the shroud end (yours look like a six-sided nut) and turn the screwdriver the necessary way to either loosen-up the shroud or tension it. As mentioned in other posts, you do not want to turn the shroud itself. Good luck
Insert a screwdriver as large as hole will accept through the hole. Maintain turnbuckle in place and loosen-up the lock-nuts.
After you've loosened the lock-nut, put a wrench on the shroud end (yours look like a six-sided nut) and turn the screwdriver the necessary way to either loosen-up the shroud or tension it. As mentioned in other posts, you do not want to turn the shroud itself. Good luck
