Rigging Tension

[OhioSailor]

I have a Seaward 23 fractional rig with a roller furling. The backstay is somewhat adjustable with a single turnbuckle. How can I check the frontstay tension with the roller furling installed? Also, my backstay has little tension on it with the turnbuckle nearly maxed. Is this ok? I appreciate the help.

[bestfriend]

I think to accurately check the forestay you need to drop the jib and remove the foil. I could be wrong, but thats what I remember.

[sailingdog]

Ohio-

It really depends. Some furling units have a way of sliding up and out of the way so that you can check the tension... without more information, like the make/model of the furler, can't really say much. Removing the foil is generally not a good idea, since most foils won't fit over the forestay swage or mechanical fittings, and therefore, can't be replaced without screwing up the rigging tension again.

[sailingfool]

Your forestay tension will be the same as the backstay tension, unless you can bend the rig with your uppers, which seems not likely in this boat.

Why do you care what the tension is, you should only care how the jib sets, if it sets ok, the tension is good... When you are beating into a breeze, how big a curve is in the luff of the jib. too large a curve and you need more stay tension (set by backstay...) so you will point better. How much curve is ok is a judgement call, but something like six inches would fit.

If the backstay is loose to the hand, the tension is probably not enough, mine is tight as a piano wire.