Pearson Yachts Forum

Pearson Boats - Common Systems => Standing & Running Rigging and Fitting/Tuning => Topic started by: The Great Godsea on January 13, 2017, 03:32:00 PM

Title: Stays. how much tension is juuuust right?
Post by: The Great Godsea on January 13, 2017, 03:32:00 PM

I am sure that the various lines supporting the mast are not properly tightened down.
A. how do I know what the "right" amount of tension is for these (measuring when sitting in the marina).
B. is there a reasonably priced tool that I can pick up to measure and tighten these stays?

Thanks.

Title: Re: Stays. how much tension is juuuust right?
Post by: Rusty Pelican on January 14, 2017, 12:29:13 PM

Get a Loos rigging gauge.
Proper tension is approx 10% of breaking strenght

Title: Re: Stays. how much tension is juuuust right?
Post by: The Great Godsea on January 17, 2017, 03:19:15 PM

Thank you.
Now to figure out "Breaking" strength.

Title: Re: Stays. how much tension is juuuust right?
Post by: Rusty Pelican on January 18, 2017, 08:37:57 AM

The gauge of the wire determines the breaking strength.

Title: Re: Stays. how much tension is juuuust right?
Post by: selene on January 18, 2017, 11:39:22 AM

If you do buy a loos gauge - a sound purchase - it includes (or did) a handy little tool for measuring wire size (in case you do not know for your boat), and a table that includes typical tension guidelines.  That should provide you with a good starting point

Next time I am on the boat (it is raining now) I'll take a note of the tension on Selene shrouds and backstay. Can't do the forestay as it has the furler on it.  Your mileage may vary, but it'll be a datapoint.

You probably know this already, but remember as you tension the shrouds and stays a key function of this rigging is to keep the mast straight and aligned correctly.  We don't have much flex in our mast, so a bend is unlikely, but you could have all the tension right and have the mast leaning to one side!  So go slow, tighten each turnbuckle in turn (i.e. don't fully tension one side, before you move to the other side!), and keep eyeballing things....


(BTW, I am assuming you have wire rigging; the tension is different for synthetic)

Title: Re: Stays. how much tension is juuuust right?
Post by: The Great Godsea on January 24, 2017, 08:06:13 AM

That's very helpful advice. I do have wire rigging and I will approach it exactly in the way suggested... keeping a close eye on the mast. Thank you all, very much.