Weather Helm on one tack

jimi

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I'm getting significantly more weather helm when I'm on port tack than starboard, The boat appears to be at the same angle of heel, sheet leads are similar, I've checked the mast is straight. I'm not sure how to test the lower shrouds. Any suggestions welcome.

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tome

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Jim

I use a rig tension thingy to set up my shrouds. Mine handles 8 - 10 mm rigging and cost an arm and a leg, the one for smaller sizes is much cheaper (~£60).

I can control weather helm with the traveller, and ease it to leeward in a stiff breeze. You can see from the king spoke how much weather helm is being applied and I usually ease when it gets to the 9 or 3 o'clock position. It's a very effective control.

I noticed that Glen Rosa doesn't have a traveller, and wonder if the mainsheet lead is the same on both tacks?

I would think that fitting a traveller might be a worthwhile winter job: you can get a complete kit for this from Lewmar etc.

Regards
Tom

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maxxi

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Have you checked that the mast is actually upright as well as straight. You can do this by taking the main halyard down to a fitting on either side of the boat, maintaining the same tension on the halyard. If the halyard reaches one fitting but not the other, this indicates the degree by which the mast is out of perpendicular - and needs correcting.
Lower backstays should be set-up so that the mast is perfectly straight whilst at rest (look up the track) and then should be adusted with the boat on the wind in, say force3, by again looking up the track (on both tacks). The mast should still be straight, if not corrections are required.
Be careful though, as adjustments are a combination of capshroud and lower adjustment, both treating different symptoms of mast bend. PBO have dome some good articles on this.

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jimi

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I've got a bit of pre bend set up on it. I chechecked it was straigh by taking the main halyard to the same bit of the toerail on either side.

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vyv_cox

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Make no assumptions about apparently similar points on the boat when measuring. Measure from the mast foot to each toerail and mark the points. Then measure mast uprightness to them, using something that does not stretch. A rope halyard is quite difficult for this, a long steel tape measure is best IMHO.

Test lower shrouds visually. Close hauled in F 3-4 the mast should be straight on either tack with the leeward shroud slack but not loose. Look upwards from the gooseneck. I reckon to just be able to push the clevis pin from one side of its range to the other in the leeward chainplate. Same principle applies with multiple spreaders, it's just more complicated. Check the other tack after correcting one side.



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jimi

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Re Traveller, think that's a good idea.

Vyv, taken on board your advice, I think my lower shrouds are not tight enough as they are loose on the leeward side. Should I tighten the leeward side so they are no longer loose but not taut, switch to the other tack and then repeat the process?

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vyv_cox

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Yes, that's how I do it, although the written advice is often to adjust both together. However, since it is virtually impossible to ensure that both were at the same tightness initially I think this is poor advice.

It can be difficult to judge on the first attempt and you may find that the lowers are now too tight and the masthead bows to windward. It's just a matter of keeping on doing it until everything is right on each tack. I check mine from time to time in the season in case something has changed. Same guideline applies to the cap shrouds and you may need to adjust them similarly.

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Twister_Ken

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Calamity?

Possibly your boat is bent. Ask 'Calamity' if he has been around your way lately.

But seriously though, two (and a half) other possibilities.

1. Rudder. May not be perfectly symmetrical
1.5 Wheel might not be in 'top dead centre' posn when rudder is in the straight ahead posn.
2. Keel might not be symmetrical (clonked it lately?), or might not be exactly fore and aft.

PS. Did this happen after you'd lent her to TCM?

More likely though given the mainsheet arrangement that there's more tension in the mainsheet on one tack than t'other.

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G

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I moaned like hell for ages about a similar problem on my boat ..... checked mast, stays, everything I could think off ...... then recently when standing looking at my exhaust and checking the cooling water was coming through ..... I thought - strange ...... my rudder is about 5 deg to starboard and tiller is midships !!!

As they say - never look at a mechanics car - I can honestly say now ...... never look at a surveyors boat !!!!

I now have a bit more respect for the old tub and have stopped swearing at her !!!!!


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Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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dickh

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My boat also sails better on one tack than the other - then noticed that the keel is not vertical - it's about 3-4º leaning one way, can't remember which waythough....

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