basic tunig/rigging of mast for 1989

[Ron Hill]

Guys : I think we all know the basics of tuning the rigging.  You run a tape measure to the top of the mast and then measure the center of the pin on the port chain plate and then on the starboard chain plate and make sure the length is identical.  Then you know the mast is centered. 
Then take a heavy weight like a hammer and hang it on the main halyard so the hammer hangs just above the boom.  Let the boat stabilize and the hammer should hang 1/2 to 1 full mast width aft of the mast.  This gives you the proper rake aft. 
What my tension gage tells me is the following very useful information: 
1) The number that represents the percent breaking tension of the 1/19 size wire that I have selected (usually between 25% and 35% of breaking strength).
2)  That the tension on one shroud and the opposing shroud on the other side are equal.

I'm not a racer nor pretend to be a rigger, but the tension gage gives valuable information to me!!