where to buy standing rigging...launch disaster!

[GeorgiaBII]

Made it to the lake but got a major rigging issue. The rear standing rigging cable is way too long for my boat. This is the first time I've tried to raise the mast since I bought the boat.

Two questions.

1. Where can I find either the proper measurements for this cable or how do I measure it to get an accurate measurement?

2. Who do I order from? I'm on lake Martin and there are not any sail lofts nearby to my knowledge.

I need to get this fixed asap. Got family coming from across the country to go along in two weeks.

Thanks guys!

 

[TLW]

Seco South, Defender.

Are you sure you have a problem? Could it be that you have part of a backstay adjuster attached to your backstay. Do you have a a one-piece backstay? Do you have more than one attachment point on transom for your backstay? Is there a block somewhere within the backstay length? Any fiddle blocks among your "extra" gear than you have no known use for? Are the other parts of your standing rigging the correct length?

Pics or more info would help.

 

[GeorgiaBII]

Nope nothing extra on the cable just the turn buckle as normal. I'm scratching my head hard on this one. Boat is in the water now with the halyards acting as a temp stay. Going to do the mast in the morning and try to figure this out.

 

[203]

Since the boat is not a fractional rig, you can get very close to the correct measurement by using the halyard and a tape measure ( long one ) and a safety line in case the tape measure breaks.. then you get a measurement to the top of the mast from the attachment point on the stern.

When you say 'way too long' .. how much too long?? The rear stay connects to an off center strap that's on the port side of the stern. Just making sure,,, don't know how much time you have with the boat.

If you surf this site in the manuals, you'll find a manual for your boat that has standing rigging dimensions in it. If you have no luck with that, you might be able to buy SeaTR a beer and get him to measure his, which is in the front yard, I think.

If the mast has never been stepped in your presence, but you know the boat has sailed in the past.. there's something funny going on. I don't need to tell you.. I know.. but it's not making sense.

 

[203]

29 feet, 11 inches is the posted number. How does that compare to yours??

http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/downloads/Hunter_22_37136629.pdf

 

[GeorgiaBII]

Measured the cable with the turn buckles fully in it measures 29' 8"

What on earth is going on?!

 

[203]

I don't know... you said turnbuckles.. as in two or more.. mine only has one. It's right above the attachment point to the stern. Do you have more than one ? I'm confused. Very normal for me, but normally I don't notice.. LOL

 

[203]

That typewritten note on page 50 is just that.. no proof or whatever, and the folks that were mentioned earlier in this thread also have measurement data. You might call them and discuss your issue. I don't know the source of the page 50 info, and am not in a position to measure mine, it's at the marina and I'm not )c: ..

 

[azguy]

You know, this is where a picture would really help, so we know what you are talking about.

I'm just guessing you did something wrong...

 

[GeorgiaBII]

Sorry guys been posting from my phone. Give me an hour to get to a keyboard.

 

[dfrancis23]

Post a picture of where the fore stay is connected also please

 

[GeorgiaBII]

Ok unfortunately no pictures are available.

So I may be shooting myself in the foot in this regard.

There is just one turnbuckle at the bottom of the cable. Not 2.

I think I may have found the issue this afternoon just before I had to leave the boat at the lake. For some reason the mast is being held in a rear leaning position and I can't figure out why. It may be operator error...

The bottom of the mast extrusion is connected to the base by 3 screws. 1 on the front is broken. I noticed that there was about a 1/4 inch gap between the bottom of the extrusion and the base at the front.

I'm thinking that over a 25' ish distance that might make for the slack cable at the rear? I need to do some math but I'm out of RUM.

When raising the mast I attached the lower side stay's and then raised it. I'm thinking that might have been a mistake?

I've never seen the mast up on this boat. I bought if from a craigslist add for less than scrap price from a desperate momma that wanted it out of the yard.

The stay's at the top are attached in the normal manner. A toggle with a pin through the mast head.

Thoughts?

 

[twalker H260]

If you are 1/4" up over the span of the mast base ( 6"?) that would translate to 1/2" per foot, 25'+ mast = 12 1/2" aft. Definitely would make your back stay seem a bit long!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Georgia bill;

As a former dealer, I always carried fittings once of which is called a Norseman where you could cut the cable if too long and add it to the cut end which would act as a stud. If installed correctly, they generally are stronger than a regular stud and would be a fast fix but those fittings are not cheap. If there are other sailors who have installed them around you that have done this, it would be advisable for their helping you as sometimes the directions are confusing. When cutting the cable, make sure you use electrical tape over the wire and cut in half to keep it from fraying all over the place.

What probably has occurred over time, the cables have stretched. You could with the mast down, send them off for a duplicate to a sail loft or find a rigger nearby who has the swage machine that could do this for you but you would need to advise how much to take off. I think you are in Georgia and if so, there are sailboat dealers at the coast one of which is an old Catalina dealer and if you are near Atlanta, there is a Hunter dealer nearby If I recall. They should be able to help you quickly.

 

[203]

I'm with Dfrancis23. I believe we need to concentrate a bit on the front connections, as there's way too much of a 'gap' at the base of the mast and that spells forestay hooked to the wrong place. Or the forestay turnbuckle is turned out way way far. Or possibly the forestay is stretched as CDC says, but I'd put that way down the list of possibilities. The document I posted earlier has forestay length in it too.

You can have both the lower and upper stays connected while you raise/lower the mast. The only things that have to be disconnected is the front stay. I have to loosen the rear stay turnbuckle about 5 turns so I can get enough slack to pull the pin on the front stay clevis, even after loosening the front about 6 turns. I guess it might be easier to undo the front even more, but I like to see a pile of threads still inside the turnbuckle LOL. ..

Pictures are needed of the mast support, front stay connection, and rum bottle. If the brand of rum is sufficient, you might even get free help LOL

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The ideal threads of a stud inside the turnbuckle is 1/3to 1/2. If all the cables are original, then they are stretched to the max. I would consider replacing but that is an individual choice. I would strongly suggest looking at the swage end of the stud to insure there is no slippage, broken wires and/or corrosion as added precaution.

 

[Benny17441]

It seems to me that your problem is due to a forestay that is not adequately tensioned. The mast should be straight and the base should be flush.

 

[isaksp00]

I agree with Benny. If the mast is not vertical to the deck, the back stay is going to be too long (or I should say appear too long). Figure out why the mast isn't all the way up - maybe the forestay is attached incorrectly or is not tight enough, maybe something is preventing the mast from going all the way forward - maybe a twisted sidestay (upper or lower), or a t-fitting twisted in the mast socket, etc. Don't go cut the backstay until you make sure the mast is properly vertical.

 

[GeorgiaBII]

I'm going back friday to figure this out. No intention of cutting until I'm positive the mast is vertical and there are no other issues.

Thanks everybody!

 

[Chief RA]

Could be your T fittings on your shrouds. Mine are hung up right now and can't get mast completely vertical. Will lower mast and reset lower shroud T set and take back up. Chief