We just got our new (‘93) 26S into the water over the weekend and thought we would go out and motor for a while just for fun. Haven’t sailed it yet as sails are in for repairs. The previous owner had one of the upper shrouds replaced (engine side). When we left the all wires were tight but due to some "funky" tidal inversion we got caught in 4ft following seas. When we got back there was a massive amount of slack in the new upper shroud. I had to move the pin down 3/16 inch... Does this amount of stretch in a 22.7ft SS wire sound reasonable??? It does not seem that any of the Swage fitting have slipped and none of the other wires changed. I just wanted to check. Thanks mark
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Difficult to say
Mark, it's difficult to say. These wires don't really stretch under normal sailing pressure. I suspect one of your adjusters or upper attachment was kinked in some way. If a kink doesn't answer the question then something's moved. If you trailer sail could easily have been a kink, if not I recommend you loosen everything up, check it all out and re-tighten all stays to where you know the tension. Then keep checking until no change occurs. Good sailing, Steve P.
Mark, it's difficult to say. These wires don't really stretch under normal sailing pressure. I suspect one of your adjusters or upper attachment was kinked in some way. If a kink doesn't answer the question then something's moved. If you trailer sail could easily have been a kink, if not I recommend you loosen everything up, check it all out and re-tighten all stays to where you know the tension. Then keep checking until no change occurs. Good sailing, Steve P.
new cables
Stranded cable will appear to "stretch" when new as the strands get pulled tighter together under tension. Once the cable has been pulled from this relaxed state it should become more stable. Just check the tension again.
Stranded cable will appear to "stretch" when new as the strands get pulled tighter together under tension. Once the cable has been pulled from this relaxed state it should become more stable. Just check the tension again.
Steve Paul is right on....
Overlooking a "kink" on an attachment is the likely culprit. Any other reason for "stretch" would be serious enough to investigate thoroughly...
Overlooking a "kink" on an attachment is the likely culprit. Any other reason for "stretch" would be serious enough to investigate thoroughly...
I understand
At this point the boat is still new to me so for the next year there will be a whole lot of "Does that seem right?" conversations with myself. Next week I will be climbing all over the Mac in an attempt to do a complete rewire (have 200ft of duplex wire) and will look closer at the mast, chain plates and hull. One more question if I may...I have noticed that one of the holes in the rudder shaft where the rudder handle bolt goes through has elongated. How are people fixing this… My first inclination was to over drill it and add a steel barrel insert but was concerned that this would weaken the rudder shaft. I have tightened the bolt and it does help but I wanted to do permanent fixes for all of the problems. Thanks for the replies.
At this point the boat is still new to me so for the next year there will be a whole lot of "Does that seem right?" conversations with myself. Next week I will be climbing all over the Mac in an attempt to do a complete rewire (have 200ft of duplex wire) and will look closer at the mast, chain plates and hull. One more question if I may...I have noticed that one of the holes in the rudder shaft where the rudder handle bolt goes through has elongated. How are people fixing this… My first inclination was to over drill it and add a steel barrel insert but was concerned that this would weaken the rudder shaft. I have tightened the bolt and it does help but I wanted to do permanent fixes for all of the problems. Thanks for the replies.
Wire streatch
It is normal for this slack to occur, especially with trailer boats. However if after retightening the shrouds and sailing again, if it gets loose again, then start checking for creep at the swedged fittings. The reason the wire seems to streatch is because the strads are being pulled togeather taking the slack out of the wire. Any time wire is allowed to untwist some, it will get longer. Twist it more, and it will get shorter, it's not really streatch, but your rigging doesn't know that, so you will have to retune the rig. The other fellow was right about possibly having a kink, or thimble not set right when you took off, and when it set in right, again, it seems as if the wire streatched. A few good yanks and tugs on the shrouds after you set the mast can help prevent this problem next time. If when you step the mast next time the shrouds seem too tight, this was your problem. Straighten out the rigging and it should be like it was when you finished sailing last time.
It is normal for this slack to occur, especially with trailer boats. However if after retightening the shrouds and sailing again, if it gets loose again, then start checking for creep at the swedged fittings. The reason the wire seems to streatch is because the strads are being pulled togeather taking the slack out of the wire. Any time wire is allowed to untwist some, it will get longer. Twist it more, and it will get shorter, it's not really streatch, but your rigging doesn't know that, so you will have to retune the rig. The other fellow was right about possibly having a kink, or thimble not set right when you took off, and when it set in right, again, it seems as if the wire streatched. A few good yanks and tugs on the shrouds after you set the mast can help prevent this problem next time. If when you step the mast next time the shrouds seem too tight, this was your problem. Straighten out the rigging and it should be like it was when you finished sailing last time.
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