Tuning the mast

[John Daly]

After years of just tightening the turn buckles so that the mast is straight up, I bought a tuning guage. Does anyone know how many pounds at which to set the standing rigging, back stay and fore stay?

 

[Michael McCann]

Mast Tuning

Use the guage to get the lowers even side to side. There is no absolute setting for any of the shrouds or stays. The forward and aft lowers do not need to be the same. If you do not have an adjustable back stay, adjust the forstay, and backstay for upwind sailing (tight). If your backstay is adjustable, set the stays a little loose for downwind, and use the backstay adjuster to go upwind. I always set the forwards a little tighter than the afts, and when the backstay was tightened the mast would have a slight bend aft. Ask Bob Teeter (C42) about my mast tuning.Good luckMichael

 

[Jim]

Tuning Guide

Go here http://www.main.org/catalina22/ and then look for the tuning guide.Jim