Standing rigging tension?

[SPLETS]

I bought a 1987 C-34 and in a good blow the leeward shrouds became quite loose.  I tightened each one about 1.5 turns and all is better.  How tight should the shrouds be?  Do you use a loos gauge and tighten to some specs?  What size are the shrouds?

[Stu Jackson]

Hi

See the Manuals: http://www.c34.org/manuals/index.htm

Easiest way to tension the rigging properly:

go sailing

observe leeward shrouds somewhat loose

tighten them halfway

tack

tighten the other side the other half

The idea is to balance the tension on both sides and to avoid adjusting the turnbuckles when under any load, including at the dock.

[rirvine]

I would add few things to Stu's guidance.  Before starting out with adjustments under sail:

1. Make sure the top of the mast is in the center of the boat
2. Adjust the lowers so the mast is in column – straight
3. Port and starboard lower tension should be the same
4. Aft lower tension should be less than the forward lower tension
5. When you make adjustment while sailing, adjust them the same number of turns on both sides.   This will keep the mast straight
6. If the top of the mast falls off to leeward while sailing, the upper will need to tightened.

If all else fails have a rigger make a boat call to get the initial set up correct.

[skyward]

Hi Stu, what did you mean by the phrase " tighten them halfway " ?

[Stu Jackson]

Hi Stu, what did you mean by the phrase " tighten them halfway " ?

Jeff,

Because you're tightening only one half of the total load at a time.  Do it halfway, tack, then check the other side.  Repeat as necessary.

It's an incremental process.  Folks with gauges think it's a measurement.  But even with a gauge, one3 should do the finals by a trail sail.

The linked manual is a good read.

[KWKloeber]

CORRECTION, ooops.


Interesting question.... 

If due to an out of plumb keel or unbalanced boat, there is a significant port list.

At the dock, should one keep the mast square to the deck (i.e., port-listed, to heck with the list while sailing,) or align the mast PLUMB (not @ a right angle to the hull, and counteract for the port list)?


[/quote]

[skyward]

Thanks, Stu. Makes sense to me.