2001 Bavaria 40 shroud tension?

[ejessen]

I just had the rigging replaced on my 2001 Bavaria 40 AC.

The yard was not really able to give recommendation on what the shroud tension should be and I was wondering if anyone has original material that states the correct tension?

Using the Loos tension gauge, my upper shrouds are at 16% of breaking strength; the lowers are at 3% which seems low to me.

Any recommendations?

-- Erik

[Yngmar]

See Selden "Hints and Advice", section on multi-spreader fractional rig: http://www.seldenmast.com/files/595-540-E.pdf

Cap shroud tension should be around 20% with backstay tensioned, 25% with backstay slack.

The diagonals are just tensioned to keep the mast straight (with slack backstay) and it's normal for them to have less tension.

So yours is not far off. It's very common for riggers to not apply enough tension, especially for this type rig, which requires a little more.

[geoff]

The way that I check rig tension is to sail the boat to windward in about 15 to 20kt apparent and look up the mast to check it stays straight , then look at the leeward shrouds. They will be looser than windward but should not be floppy, lower inner will be loose but again should not flop about . Any adjustments needed should be equal both sides. Geoff