[Rhodes22-list] Shroud and Stay adjustments

[Graham Stewart]

No one with actual knowledge has answered this post so let me add a few
tid-bits that might be relevant. When I first started I had no clue how to
adjust the rig and found the following points useful in preparing a solid
cruising rig without too much of the arcane.

I was told by those who presumably know that:
1.	 the fore stay, outer shrouds and back stays are adjusted first. The
lower should are left loose.
2. 	The fore and aft stays are adjusted to set the rake of the mast
which,  in the case of the Rhodes, is none or very little. 
3. 	The outer shrouds are first adjusted to be exactly the same length
and then tightened exactly to ensue the mast to remains over the centre line
of the boat evenly. How much tension to put on the stays and outer shrouds
is a point of some debate and testing. I like a rig that is tight enough
that the rigging does not slack off too much when heeled but not so tense as
to dive the mast down through the keel.
-	At this point, if you get down on your knees sight up the sail track
you will see that the mask is bent slightly because of the compression
forces on it. You then tighten the lower shrouds with the sole purpose of
straightening the mast. This does add compression forces but by
straightening the mast you make it very rigid. If you tighten the lower
shrouds to higher then necessary tension the upper shrouds will seem loose
leading to a round robin of tightening that can add up quickly to tension
that is much more  than needed. That can't be a good thing.

I think the most common mistake is to tighten the lower shrouds with
reference to anything other than making the mast the straight - not bent
side to side and only a very slight, if any, bend from fore to aft.
Personally I try for a mast that is perpendicular and straight in all
dimensions. After that, and if you are so inclined,  it is an astonishingly
time consuming process of tweaking the rake in the hope that it might
improve the sail shape slightly. 

I am no expert. Those who know better should definately speak up at this
point to save our fellow rhodies from my advice.

Graham 


-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of David Craft
Sent: June-26-13 11:20 AM
To: Rhodes List
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Shroud and Stay adjustments

I have had several folks tell I need to tight my back stays more.  When I do
the inner shrouds are affected.  The forward inner shrouds tighten but can
be loosened with no problem.

The inner back shrouds loosen but cannot be tightened enough with the
current turnbuckles.

I have read to keep the forward stays at 300 lbs and the aft stays at about
250 lbs.

The outer shrouds are fine as they are even with the masts and stay the same
level of tension as the mast go back or forth..

Any ideas on how to address this on the rear inner shrouds?


Regards,

David B. Craft
Greensboro, NC
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