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Rig Tension

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/12/2006 : 07:42:01

I'm going to drop my mast this weekend to put on some new hardware so that I can fly a spinnaker. We're using the brute force method. No A-frames, no gin pole, just three beefy guys.

When I put the mast back up, I'd like to get the rig tension right. To do this properly, you need two different Loos gauges. I've only got the larger of the two, which I've used for all the shrouds in the past. I have the "standard" rig with the "standard" non-adjustable backstay. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Bruce Baker
Falls Church, VA
"Yee Ha" 3573
'83SR/SK

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 09:20:37

I use a 'sharpie' (indelible marker) to put 'tic marks' on my shroud/turnbuckle threads before taking the rig down. If you're happy with the current state of tune you can easily get back to where you were (or very close).

As far as tension... I set up my rig tension by feel and tune by observing of the rig under sail.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 09:52:02

I use a method similar to what ClamBeach described above. If the turnbuckles are open bodied, and don't have locknuts, one can wrap a piece of masking tape around the threads right where they enter the turnbuckle body to mark the previous setting. If there is a locknut, the ink mark method allows the nut to pass over the mark. I also tune mine 'by feel'. I course tune at the dock, and fine tune out on the water.

-- Leon Sisson

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 09:59:23

You don't really need two Loos, I use the larger one since the uppers are the more important and then use the gauge for consistancy on the others. In truth of fact, there is no right answer to the tension question. I sail in high wind and have my rig tighter than most, I don't like rigging flopping around and speaders being yanked by said rigging. The issue is to have the rig straight athwartship, raked as you want it fore and aft and then equalized tension on opposing rigging. I think I have 28 on the uppers, 23 on the forward lowers and 18 on the aft lowers. The forestay is under a furler so I cannot Loos it but it is tight enough to quiet the furler extrusionwhen the forestay is shaken by hand. My backstay is snug but controlled by the backstay adjuster.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 11:04:58

Bruce,

If your rig is currently how you like it, take Loos readings before dropping the mast then use those readings to retune your rig.

I, too, tune my rig by feel and like a more firmer rig due to the prevailing conditions in my sailing venue. As Frank said, there really isn't a one size fits all rig tension setting. As someone once said, rig settings are like snowflakes, no two are alike.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 15:14:27

If you have the bigger of the two guages, the relative reading on the smaller wire will still be the same. The numbers won't correspond correctly, but relative to before and after and each other they will give the same readings.

However - Loos guages won't tell you if everything is squared up etc. You could easily have the same readings on the lowers, but not have a straight stick because of the uppers or the other lowers etc.

Be sure to put everything in line before pulling out the guage, then try to fine tune with the loos guage by the by putting same number of turns on the corresponding pairs of turnbuckles. With boats as old as ours, you might very well find that 7 turns on the one is only 6.5 on the other when getting things lined up.

dw

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2006 : 10:52:23

After all that, we decided not to drop the stick after all. I made my first visit to the top of the mast and installed my spinnaker block. It wasn't that hard, after all.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.