standing rigging tension specs?

nightowle · #1 (**permalink**) 09-23-2008

Does anyone know where I can find information on the tension specs for the shrouds and stays on a 27 foot O'Day?

TIA,

Nightowle

Stillraining · #2 (**permalink**) 09-23-2008

The make of the boat dosent matter really so much its the size of the wire..And what the wire is for...Do you know the diamiter of the wire?

nightowle · #3 (**permalink**) 09-23-2008

I just read Giu's sticky here on the gear and maintenance forum that addresses this. so you're right, StillRaining, that it doesn't seem to matter about the boats configuration but rather the size of the wire. I'll research that next time I"m at the boat. Thanks Alex for another great sticky. I should have found that before writing my post. Oops!!

Stillraining · #4 (**permalink**) 09-23-2008

Its not all this cut and dried as it matters some to what type of sailing you do and what type of rig it is..but for prarctical pourpuses you can use 10% of breaking strength for your lowers and 15 to 20% for your uppers..Back stay at around 10 % also but your forestay will do more of that determination for you as you will want a fairly taunt forestay for good sail shape and not one that is sagging. Just remember to go partially one side and then back to the other and contantly sight up your mast using the sail track to make sure it remains straight

sailingfool · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2008

It may be a little old fashioned but I continue to believe that you should tune your rigging so you have just enough tension to hold the mast in column when beating in a breeze. Whatever load that represents doesn't really matter, it's what is required by your boat. There are plenty of threads about how to tune the rig, its the same for any boat with the same stay configuration. Go sailing and get the rig setup and don't worry about the numbers.