RE: [Cal_Boats] rigging gauge (Chris)

Unfortunately, Chris, I think the answer is whatever feels good and suits your sails. I've seen many different sets of readings for CAL 25s, and have not been able to correlate them well to performance or to wind conditions. I kind of strum mine like the strings on a bass guitar. Hmmmm... C Sharp... Sounds pretty good. I have a guage and have never really used it. Of course, all I have on the boat is a compass and a knotmeter. And I hate cell phones and PDAs (I know exactly how they work technically, I just don't like them). Cheers Luddite and Rustic - Charlie From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chris Campbell Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 1:08 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] rigging gauge Calophiles: One of my Xmas presents was a Loos rigging gauge. My brother bought it for me after eading that it's something most sailors lust for but are too cheap to purchase for themselves. He guessed right on me. So what's the recommended rig tension for a Cal 20? Chris Campbell ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/A1TolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links

Husar Charlie wrote: >Unfortunately, Chris, I think the answer is whatever feels good and >suits your sails. I've seen many different sets of readings for CAL >25s, and have not been able to correlate them well to performance or to >wind conditions. I kind of strum mine like the strings on a bass >guitar. >Hmmmm... C Sharp... Sounds pretty good. I have a guage and have never >really used it. > I think maybe the main use will be for the initial spring rig set-up. My other boat, an old Seafarer, seems to have less give in the mast step, so the rigging slacks less on the lee side under sail. On that one, I may be able to measure a suitable tension and then replicate it in succeeding years. On the Cal 20, flexibility seems to be the guiding concept, and no amount of tightening will reduce leeward shroud slop. And it might be fun to measure tension under sail on the windward shrouds, just to see what it it and how it changes. > Of course, all I have on the boat is a compass and a >knotmeter. And I hate cell phones and PDAs (I know exactly how they >work technically, I just don't like them). > > There was a conspiracy afoot to give me a cell phone for Christmas. I threatened to change my will and put the malefactors in the leaky berths on the boat. They snickered about the will and answered that all the berths were leaky but did heed my admonition about no cell phone. I do have a VHF--a fixed mount on the other boat and a handheld for both. I use them to get the NOAA weather forecast and, in theory, for emergencies, although I've been fortunate to have none of those (when the engine stops, we sail in). My brother gave me a low-end, hiker-style handheld GPS. It's fun to check speed with it. The Cal 20 does not have a knotmeter, and the one on the other boat is an old mechanical Sumlog that reads faster on one tack than on the other because of its impeller location (unavoidable because of hull form). Chris Campbell