I agree with Gary's recommendation, and have done so myself years ago. Regarding shroud tension, I have followed the recommendations in a video "Tuning Your Rig" by Brion Toss, a well-regarded rigger from Port Townsend, WA. Based on his recommendations I have used the following settings on my M-17 for 10 years or so with great results, and no damage to the mast or rigging. Lower shroud (1/8") - 25 on the Loos Gauge Upper Shroud (1/8") - 32 Forestay (5/32") - 41 Backstay (1/8") - 32 The tensions are all in the range of 10-15% of breaking strength. The rigging is much tighter than I used to set it based on uneducated gut feel, but after many years of success I'm convinced that Brion Toss knows what he's talking about. Rich Makela M-17 #233 - Harmony -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of GARY M HYDE Sent: Monday, March 28, 2016 1:21 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Shroud tension David: Round the foot of the mast so you can step it without loosening the shrouds. Strike a curve using the bolt hole a s a center and trim the aft part of th mast foot. G M Hyde Sent from my iPad
On Mar 28, 2016, at 7:55 AM, David Rifkind <drifkind@acm.org> wrote:
On Mar 28, 2016, at 8:55 AM, David Rifkind <drifkind@acm.org> wrote:
Any guidance on tensioning shrouds? Mine were set at “that feels about right”. It took me a while to realize, when raising the mast, the shrouds are at maximum tension a few degrees from “up”, when the mast base hasn’t quite dropped down flat, and because of the funny angle, the pull was actually bending the bottom T bolts on the uppers.
My shrouds I think are too short, and adjusted all the way out I can just barely get the mast up without overtensioning them.
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