Rig tensions for Cal 34?

Hi all. We'll be tensioning the rigging on our "new" Cal 34 soon for the first time. I've read the posts/online about how it should be "not too tight" and "not too slack", etc. However, since I don't have much experience with this, I got a Loos tension gauage to try to add some science/math to it. So...does anyone have any recommended starting tensions for our rig? We don't race, but mostly cruise. Anywhere from 0-30+ knots is the norm. Thanks for any advice. Bix Cal 34 mkIII Seward, AK

600lb on uppers 800lb on lowers. my best, Mike From: bixmc <bi… [at] yahoo.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, March 10, 2011 11:23:06 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Rig tensions for Cal 34? Hi all. We'll be tensioning the rigging on our "new" Cal 34 soon for the first time. I've read the posts/online about how it should be "not too tight" and "not too slack", etc. However, since I don't have much experience with this, I got a Loos tension gauage to try to add some science/math to it. So...does anyone have any recommended starting tensions for our rig? We don't race, but mostly cruise. Anywhere from 0-30+ knots is the norm. Thanks for any advice. Bix Cal 34 mkIII Seward, AK ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Are you taking about shrouds or stays ? Shrouds are best tuned by going sailing and adjusting by looking at the mast and adjusting on the other tack until it is straight. Single spreader rigs are easy to tune. Go sailing. Look at the mast on starboard tack. Is it straight ? No ? If the tip bends to leeward, the uppers are too tight and/or the lowers are too loose. If opposite, it is the opposite problem. Tack to port and do the adjustments. Tack back to starboard and see if it is now straight. If not, tack again and adjust some more. When you are done, the mast should be straight on both tacks and the leeward shrouds should be soft, if not loose. If you want stays adjusted, go sailing. The backstay tension will bend the mast enough to flatten the main. More wind, more tension. Always release the backstay when you put the boat away or else you will end up with a banana. You can record the backstay tension for wind strength if you have the ability to measure both. Mike Kennedy Wish I could be sailing as the weather is warming up here. By June, I will have the Lido 14 sailing. On Mar 10, 2011, at 11:23 AM, bixmc wrote: > Hi all. We'll be tensioning the rigging on our "new" Cal 34 soon for > the first time. I've read the posts/online about how it should be > "not too tight" and "not too slack", etc. However, since I don't > have much experience with this, I got a Loos tension gauage to try > to add some science/math to it. > > So...does anyone have any recommended starting tensions for our rig? > We don't race, but mostly cruise. Anywhere from 0-30+ knots is the > norm. > > Thanks for any advice. > > Bix > Cal 34 mkIII > Seward, AK > > >

On Mar 10, 2011, at 4:31 PM, Michael Kennedy wrote: > Are you taking about shrouds or stays ? Shrouds are best tuned by > going sailing and adjusting by looking at the mast and adjusting on > the other tack until it is straight. Single spreader rigs are easy to > tune. > > Go sailing. Look at the mast on starboard tack. Is it straight ? No ? > If the tip bends to leeward, the uppers are too tight and/or the > lowers are too loose. If opposite, it is the opposite problem. I obviously got that reversed. A mast tip to windward, suggests uppers are too tight or the lowers too loose. I just looked at it again and saw the error. Mike Kennedy > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > >