25D standing rigging sizes and tensions

[Martinhilldpo]

Need a little favour. I am far away from my boat (really really far) and I want to order online a rig tension gauge to be ready for when I get back.

Can anyone please tell me the diameter of the standing rigging on a 25D? It is 6x19 stainless.

Also anybody know what the tensions should be for the same boat? Any tips on setting the tension correctly?

[Sea Hunt Video]

Martin:

This information is from my 1982 Owner's Manual:

STANDING AND RUNNING RIGGING

CD-25D
Forestay (W) 3/16x32’5”
Backstay (W) 3/16x34’5”
Uppers (W) 3/16x31’7”
Lowers (W) 5/32x17’2”
Main Halyard (P) 3/8x70’
Jib Halyard (P) 3/8x73’
Main Sheet (D) 7/16x66’
Jib Sheet (D) 7/16x50
Genoa Sheet (D) 7/16x35’
Topping Lift (D) 1/4x60’
Spinnaker Halyard (D) 3/8x73’
Spinnaker Sheets (D) 7/16x50’

Key: (W) = 1 x 19 Stainless Steel Wire (P) = Prestretched Dacron (D) = Braided Dacron

[Martinhilldpo]

Thank you Roberto. 1 x 19 it is, not 6 x 19 as per my earlier typo.

Anybody got any tips on setting the correct tensions?

[Frenchy]

Hi Martin-I am a tuning neophyte but based on the sizes Roberto supplied, a starting point for the 3/16" wire (316 SS), would be 420 lbs.
The 5/32" wire would be around 280 lbs. That's figured on a tension of 10% of breaking
strength. If you have 304 SS like I have, you could go up 10% or so. The aft lowers are usually tensioned
a bit less than the fore lowers and you should adjust the rig to take out most of the slack in the lee
cap shrouds when you're hard on the wind.
Other folks more knowledgeable about tuning will have better and more information, I'm sure.
Good luck - Jean

[tjr818]

The Loos gauges have a chart built on to the that shows the roper tension for each wire size. Not being a racer and not wanting a "banana boat" I tension to half of what the Loos recommends. That is probably a bit too loose,but it has worked for us. The forestay on Slainte cannot be measured because of the roller furling foil, but we adjust the backstay to keep the forestay tight and the mast vertical, but that is still less than the numbers on the gauge.

[Jim Walsh]

The Loos gauges have a chart built on to the that shows the roper tension for each wire size. Not being a racer and not wanting a "banana boat" I tension to half of what the Loos recommends. That is probably a bit too loose,but it has worked for us. The forestay on Slainte cannot be measured because of the roller furling foil, but we adjust the backstay to keep the forestay tight and the mast vertical, but that is still less than the numbers on the gauge.

Another vote for the Loos gauge. I have found their recommended tensions to be ideal. After the first sail of the season I check the tensions to ensure there is no change. It only takes a few moments to verify the tension during the season to verify nothing is going unnoticed with your standing rigging.

[Martinhilldpo]

Thank you all, I have just ordered the correct size Loos gauge pro so it will be at my house ready to play with when I get home.

Thanks!

[tjr818]

So Jim, you tension to the full tension recommended by the Loos gauge? I have been afraid to do that since the manual says not to go "Bar Tight", (however tight that is) and to adjust to adjust to 1" give for the uppers.
I'll give the higher tensions a try this Spring.

[Jim Walsh]

So Jim, you tension to the full tension recommended by the Loos gauge? I have been afraid to do that since the manual says not to go "Bar Tight", (however tight that is) and to adjust to adjust to 1" give for the uppers.
I'll give the higher tensions a try this Spring.

.

I'm a big believer in objective evidence, which the gauge establishes. Subjective evidence derived from plucking this and pulling that is not what I desire for my standing rigging.