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Home. Association Forum Ships Store Cruising Racing Technical Tips Photo Gallery - New Boat Search - Updated Manuals & Brochures Swap Meet Links Officer Flag Line & Staff Bylaws & Constitution   Members Area Join the Association   Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. 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.	Not Yet! Lower Front Shroud Rollers If you have problems with the jib or jib sheets hanging up on the front lower shrouds every time you tack, shroud rollers are a cheap and easy cure. At your hardware store a buy two 10 foot lengths of PVC, I think I used 1/2 inch, schedule 40. Buy four 1/2 inch end caps, and two 5/16 nylon washers, and a small jar of PVC glue. First, mark your threads on each side of the lower front turnbuckles, right next to the nuts with a magic marker for a tuning reference. Unscrew the turnbuckles all the way off, drill the end caps to fit the threads somewhat closely, they should turn freely. Sand the end caps completely smooth where the holes were drilled. Glue on the end caps to each 10 foot tube, and slide the tubes up each shroud. Put a nylon washer on each side followed by the nuts. Screw the turnbuckles on and recalibrate to the marks. The shroud rollers should turn easily with the nylon washers acting as a bushing between the end caps and the turnbuckle nuts. The front lowers should be snug but not tight. Take the boat out for a sail and have someone steer on a beam reach, lay on your back in front of the mast and sight up the front edge. If the middle of the mast is bowed to windward or leward, then readjust until the mast is in column, all four lower shrouds should have equal tension, unless your tuning for racing. The rollers will last forever and work very well, 3/4 inch PVC will work even better if you don't mind the bulkier look. Send comments or questions to: jp@kaiwan.com