We have had her for just over a year and are learning by doing on top of one lesson. Is it normal to have slack in the lee side rigging, and how much should we have. What is the best way to know all the rigging is tight enough, but not do any damage. We normaly sail in the gulf in 10 to 15 knotts. By the way, seems to be a great boat to learn on.
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Dont tighten while under sail
you dont want to mess with the tension of the rigging while you are under sail. It is normal for the mast to flex and give the leeside shroud some slack. if you kept tightening on each tack you will eventually bust your rig from tightening down too much. I would recommend checking the tension only when the sails are down with no additional forces exerting on them.
you dont want to mess with the tension of the rigging while you are under sail. It is normal for the mast to flex and give the leeside shroud some slack. if you kept tightening on each tack you will eventually bust your rig from tightening down too much. I would recommend checking the tension only when the sails are down with no additional forces exerting on them.
Loos tension guage
I have an Oday 25 and it is great boat. I bought a Loos tension guage last year and it was a worthwhile purchase. Takes a lot of guess work out of the process. Alan
I have an Oday 25 and it is great boat. I bought a Loos tension guage last year and it was a worthwhile purchase. Takes a lot of guess work out of the process. Alan
loos gage
Alan, I just bought a gage but have not opened it. what do you tension your stays at. thanx, gene
Alan, I just bought a gage but have not opened it. what do you tension your stays at. thanx, gene
wire tension
Once you find the mast in tune, i.e. good rake and centered, the tension on the stays depends on the size of the wire. If you have a gauge, the cap shrouds should be around 15% the wire strength and the lowers 10-15% (generally less tension than the cap shrouds). The backstay, if nonadjusting should be about 15%, or the baseline tension if adjusting. The forestay tension will depend on the backstay tension but should be in the range of 15-20% (higher with more wind or a tensioned backstay). Without a gauge (like me) I tension firmly with an 8-inch wrench. My wire is 5/32 on an Oday 22, your 25 may use a larger size so you could try a 10-inch wrench. To check everything, gauge or gauge-less, the lee shrouds should be just slack in a 10-15 knot breeze sailing close-hauled. This will tell you whether to ease or tighten. Search the archive in ask all sailors, there was a good post on rig tuning or rig tension back in the fall. North Sails also has some tuning guides here:
Once you find the mast in tune, i.e. good rake and centered, the tension on the stays depends on the size of the wire. If you have a gauge, the cap shrouds should be around 15% the wire strength and the lowers 10-15% (generally less tension than the cap shrouds). The backstay, if nonadjusting should be about 15%, or the baseline tension if adjusting. The forestay tension will depend on the backstay tension but should be in the range of 15-20% (higher with more wind or a tensioned backstay). Without a gauge (like me) I tension firmly with an 8-inch wrench. My wire is 5/32 on an Oday 22, your 25 may use a larger size so you could try a 10-inch wrench. To check everything, gauge or gauge-less, the lee shrouds should be just slack in a 10-15 knot breeze sailing close-hauled. This will tell you whether to ease or tighten. Search the archive in ask all sailors, there was a good post on rig tuning or rig tension back in the fall. North Sails also has some tuning guides here:
How does this help ?
While the Loos gauge is helpful,we need the actual number for the gauge to be of any use. You don't explain how using a differant size wrench aids in making sure you have the correct tension.I use the Loos gauge to make sure both sides are the same.
While the Loos gauge is helpful,we need the actual number for the gauge to be of any use. You don't explain how using a differant size wrench aids in making sure you have the correct tension.I use the Loos gauge to make sure both sides are the same.
How I Do Mine
I have a 1976 O'Day 25. This is my process: I loosen all the shrouds and stays to where I can turn them by hand. Hand tighten forstay and backstay. Check to make sure the mast is straight (my understanding is that the O'Day 25 is not designed for the mast to be raked). On two occasions, I even brought out a carpenter's square to be sure I was 90%, but I haven't done that in a while. After the for and back stays are snug and the mast is straight, I tighten each end down 4 or 5 turns (both the same each time) until the Loos guage says it's 10% of the wire strength. Then I eyeball the mast again, making sure it's straight. Then I repeat the for and aft until both stays are between 13% and 15% (but equal). I can't tell you why I pick 13, 14, or 15, just however the mood strikes me. Some days, it "feels" tighter, so I drop to 14 or 13. Other days, I put it at 15. Once I've got the fore and back stays done, I hand tighten the upper and lower shrouds on each side. I basically repeat the above pattern for the lower shrouds first (the inside shrouds) until both are at 10% and the mast is straight. Then I bring the outers to 10%, then the lowers to 13-15% and then the uppers.
I have a 1976 O'Day 25. This is my process: I loosen all the shrouds and stays to where I can turn them by hand. Hand tighten forstay and backstay. Check to make sure the mast is straight (my understanding is that the O'Day 25 is not designed for the mast to be raked). On two occasions, I even brought out a carpenter's square to be sure I was 90%, but I haven't done that in a while. After the for and back stays are snug and the mast is straight, I tighten each end down 4 or 5 turns (both the same each time) until the Loos guage says it's 10% of the wire strength. Then I eyeball the mast again, making sure it's straight. Then I repeat the for and aft until both stays are between 13% and 15% (but equal). I can't tell you why I pick 13, 14, or 15, just however the mood strikes me. Some days, it "feels" tighter, so I drop to 14 or 13. Other days, I put it at 15. Once I've got the fore and back stays done, I hand tighten the upper and lower shrouds on each side. I basically repeat the above pattern for the lower shrouds first (the inside shrouds) until both are at 10% and the mast is straight. Then I bring the outers to 10%, then the lowers to 13-15% and then the uppers.
13%?
Okay I inderstand why you choose to use the percents you do .What are the actual pounds of force that are measured with the Loos.13% of how many pounds of wire strength?
Okay I inderstand why you choose to use the percents you do .What are the actual pounds of force that are measured with the Loos.13% of how many pounds of wire strength?
13-15%
Sorry I wasn't more clear on the percentage of the wire strength. The Loos guage has a chart listing the wire sizes, and what reading to use for the needed percentage of wire strength. I couldn't tell you how many "pounds" it is, just what I read on the guage. Hope this helps a little more. My recommendation is that at $450 for rigging, not to mention the price of repairs if your mast comes down (been there, done that), a Loos guage at $30-$60 (depending on model and where you get it) is well worth the price.
Sorry I wasn't more clear on the percentage of the wire strength. The Loos guage has a chart listing the wire sizes, and what reading to use for the needed percentage of wire strength. I couldn't tell you how many "pounds" it is, just what I read on the guage. Hope this helps a little more. My recommendation is that at $450 for rigging, not to mention the price of repairs if your mast comes down (been there, done that), a Loos guage at $30-$60 (depending on model and where you get it) is well worth the price.
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