[Rhodes22-list] Forestay Wire Size Upgrade

[Christine Allison]

I suggest that you consider exactly what advantage(s) you will gain by
increasing the size of the standing rigging components.  It seems to me that
a Rhodes as delivered is somewhat overigged.  Increasing the diameter of the
various stays invites over tensioning of the rig.  A great way to distort
the hull... or worse!!

A while back Roger posted a wonderful essay on setting up your rig.  Perhaps
he will do it again?

Basically you want to tension your stays so that the leeward set is barely
tight under reasonable conditions.  The forestay should be taughtt enough to
cause the jib luff to remain basically straight.  The backstay should be
used to bend the mast (slightly) if you need to pull excess draft out of the
main.  Otherwise only tight enough to keep the mast in column.

Richard Smith