How do I tune rigging?

[tjc]

Mast unstepped last year and put back by local riggers. they marked the rigging but I am sure it is slacker than it was last season.

How tight should the stays be?

How much bend in the mast (cruising boat - long keel - grp)?

Babystay - how tight?

All advice is gratefully received as I am clueless on these matters!

 

[extravert]

If you are clueless then it will be much better to get a rigger to do it for you. It's not a subject that can be described in sufficient detail here, and you would get much different and conflicting advice anyway. To get the tension right you need the proper tool anyway.

It doesn't cost all that much to have it done, especially considering the consequences of getting it wrong. It shouldn't take a rigger more than an hour to do assuming it's simple, all in place, and just needs adjusting. I know that I don't know enough about tuning my rig to do it myself, and as X99's have highly strung rigs I have it professionally adjusted every year.

 

[tonyleigh]

For a rig like yours sounds, doing it oneself is not a problem. There was a good Australian(?) posting which I found useful when I re-stepped my mast earlier this season. Can't remember quite when or who but if you search this forum with the keyword rigging it, and many other helpful comments, will be returned.

 

[DanTribe]

Seden Masts do an excellent guide to setting up rigging.I got mine free from the local Selden agents. It's well worth reading even if you get an expert to set up your rig.
Dan

 

[jeanette]

Try these sites..

.. they have been recommended on previous mails on this subject.

http://204.220.138.252/newspics/charts/8712mastheadrig.pdf
http://www.briontoss.com/


Jeanette

 

[WayneS]

I started a thread on this back in Feb (or late Jan) called "To tune or not to tune".

I got excellent advice there, have a look.

Wayne

 

[oldsaltoz]

G’day Tony.
The site listed below is the one from Oz I posted some time last year. It has a lot of information on a lot of subjects so enjoy.

http://204.220.138.252/tools/features.html

Andavagoodweekend Old Salt Oz……

 

[incognito]

I did it my way.

I had similar job to do - my boat is 36ft, 51ft mast, 8mm rigging.

Selden mast setting up guide tells you how... including on the water adjustments with the boat heeling at such and such an angle.... I have to do the job alone, really, and anyway, I rather believe in the way I did it....

I bought a tension guage for 8-10mm rigging, and brought every shroud and stay up to the SAME recommended setting, starting with (mast vertical and not biassed either to P or S) cap shrouds then lowers and finally backstay.

Maybe others will say 'nay', but 30yrs of setting up like that have always kept my boats nice and tight.

 

[Guest]

Re: I did it my way.

I've been thinking of buying a tension gauge but it's just occurred to me, I have a furling headsail,how do I tension it?
Guess work and feel I suppose.

 

[tjc]

Re: I did it my way.

All excellent advice, thanks. Where do I get a tension gauge?

 

[Guest]

Re: I did it my way.

The Compass catalogue has one £33 to £40 depending on size required. www.compass24.com
Or your local chandler may have one