My Typhoon was built in 1965. The mast height above deck is about 24'. The top 4' of the the mast is tapered. The rig is (more or less) a 7/8ths set up. The forestay attaches to the mast about 6' below the mast head. The uppers attach to the mast about 1' above the forestay. The lowers attach to the mast at the spreaders which are about 6' below the attachement point of the forestay and uppers. The back stay goes to the mast head. Whew.....The question is, should the lowers be attached to the foreward chain plates or the aft chain plates. It seems I induce unwanted mast bend no matter how I position the lowers and uppers.
rick.parish@hbcfield.Honeywell.com
Typhoon - Help with proper standing rig set up please.
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Captain Mike
Re: Typhoon - Help with proper standing rig set up please.
Dear Rigger:
The lower shrouds should be attached to the aft chain plates. If you have substantial leeward mast bending, you probably do not have you rig properly tensioned. Once you have determined helm balance by the fore/aft rake of the mast, then tighten the the rig as follows. At anchor tighten the upper and lower shrouds until they feel to have equal pressure, do not over tighten at this time and the mast should be straight. Tighten the backstay until you feel the lower shrouds increase in tension. When you tighten the backstay, this bends the mast and increases the tension on the lower shrouds, the uppers are not affected. Also on a 3/4 rig, tighten the forestay also tightens the lower shrouds, but to a lesser extent than the backstay. Now you are ready for sea trails. In a fresh breeze, with full working sails determine the degree of mast bend. Adjust the lowers in conjugation with the backstay to reduce lower mast bending. Upper mast bending is then eazily eliminated by alternating tacks and adjusting upper shrouds. The proper tension is usually achieved when the mast does not bend on either tack. The forstay mostly controls fore/aft rake of the mast. If you have excessive weather helm, which is common on
Cape Dorys, tighten the forestay or rake the mast forward until you achieve proper weather helm pressure. Once you shorten the forstay, backstay and lowers must be loosened to allow forward movement of the mast. Once the forestay is set then adjust all other cables in the sequence as stated previously. Therfore, as mentioned in the beginning of this essay initially set the forestay to your proper weather helm. It is interesting to play with the rig. Cape Dorys are usually designed with the safety factor of excessive weather helm. It is almost impossible to adjust the mast rake within the limits of the turnbuckles to make lee helm. Ideally, when a rig is properly balanced, mast positioned correctly, and stays made to the proper length the vessel should go from very slight lee helm to proper weather helm within the limits of the turnbuckles. It is common on Cape Dorys to have the mast raked forward to attain in my sailing preference proper weather helm. Each sailor is different, I enjoy letting go of the tiller and not have the vessel round up excessively into the wind. In my opinion, Carl Alberg or Cape Dory step the masts too far aft on most models resulting in excessive weather helm.
......Many happy repairs; Capt. Mike
mattngly@concnetric.net
The lower shrouds should be attached to the aft chain plates. If you have substantial leeward mast bending, you probably do not have you rig properly tensioned. Once you have determined helm balance by the fore/aft rake of the mast, then tighten the the rig as follows. At anchor tighten the upper and lower shrouds until they feel to have equal pressure, do not over tighten at this time and the mast should be straight. Tighten the backstay until you feel the lower shrouds increase in tension. When you tighten the backstay, this bends the mast and increases the tension on the lower shrouds, the uppers are not affected. Also on a 3/4 rig, tighten the forestay also tightens the lower shrouds, but to a lesser extent than the backstay. Now you are ready for sea trails. In a fresh breeze, with full working sails determine the degree of mast bend. Adjust the lowers in conjugation with the backstay to reduce lower mast bending. Upper mast bending is then eazily eliminated by alternating tacks and adjusting upper shrouds. The proper tension is usually achieved when the mast does not bend on either tack. The forstay mostly controls fore/aft rake of the mast. If you have excessive weather helm, which is common on
Cape Dorys, tighten the forestay or rake the mast forward until you achieve proper weather helm pressure. Once you shorten the forstay, backstay and lowers must be loosened to allow forward movement of the mast. Once the forestay is set then adjust all other cables in the sequence as stated previously. Therfore, as mentioned in the beginning of this essay initially set the forestay to your proper weather helm. It is interesting to play with the rig. Cape Dorys are usually designed with the safety factor of excessive weather helm. It is almost impossible to adjust the mast rake within the limits of the turnbuckles to make lee helm. Ideally, when a rig is properly balanced, mast positioned correctly, and stays made to the proper length the vessel should go from very slight lee helm to proper weather helm within the limits of the turnbuckles. It is common on Cape Dorys to have the mast raked forward to attain in my sailing preference proper weather helm. Each sailor is different, I enjoy letting go of the tiller and not have the vessel round up excessively into the wind. In my opinion, Carl Alberg or Cape Dory step the masts too far aft on most models resulting in excessive weather helm.
......Many happy repairs; Capt. Mike
Rick Parish wrote: My Typhoon was built in 1965. The mast height above deck is about 24'. The top 4' of the the mast is tapered. The rig is (more or less) a 7/8ths set up. The forestay attaches to the mast about 6' below the mast head. The uppers attach to the mast about 1' above the forestay. The lowers attach to the mast at the spreaders which are about 6' below the attachement point of the forestay and uppers. The back stay goes to the mast head. Whew.....The question is, should the lowers be attached to the foreward chain plates or the aft chain plates. It seems I induce unwanted mast bend no matter how I position the lowers and uppers.
mattngly@concnetric.net