I am expierencing a strange problem in tuning my mast. My port side inner stay is always much looser than the starboardd stay. When I bring the port stay up to the setting on the starboard stay, it takes the mast out of column. This is my 4th season with the boat, and I've never expierienced this before. I'm completely stumped, so if anyone has any ideas of what might be wrong, I'd appreciate the feedback.
Thanks!
Mike
Speedie 456
Mast Tuning
Moderators: Tim Bosma, Tom Elsen
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Tom Elsen
- Site Admin
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 5:42 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, MN & Chicago, IL
Is the tip of your mast centered (equidistant side-to-side)?
Are your spreaders level and at the same sweep angle?
When your mast is down, is it straight (no tip bend)?
If all of the above are correct, then start over setting the stick up.
Step 1
Loosen everything, set the boom all the way down.
Center the tip with very little pressure on the outers.
Working in one and a half turn increments side-to-side bring the stay tension up just below your medium air setting.
Put on about 1/2 backstay.
Working in one turn increments side-to-side bring the inner stay tension up to your light air setting.
Release the backstay.
Work out any hook in the mast as you bring the inner tension up to the medium air setting.
Step 2
Recheck your tip to be certain it's centered.
If not, correct it, working in 1 turn increments side-to-side.
Then correct any bend using the inners. Loosen one, tighten the other, as they should be near the medium air setting.
Repeat Step 2 if necessary.
Are your spreaders level and at the same sweep angle?
When your mast is down, is it straight (no tip bend)?
If all of the above are correct, then start over setting the stick up.
Step 1
Loosen everything, set the boom all the way down.
Center the tip with very little pressure on the outers.
Working in one and a half turn increments side-to-side bring the stay tension up just below your medium air setting.
Put on about 1/2 backstay.
Working in one turn increments side-to-side bring the inner stay tension up to your light air setting.
Release the backstay.
Work out any hook in the mast as you bring the inner tension up to the medium air setting.
Step 2
Recheck your tip to be certain it's centered.
If not, correct it, working in 1 turn increments side-to-side.
Then correct any bend using the inners. Loosen one, tighten the other, as they should be near the medium air setting.
Repeat Step 2 if necessary.
Best wishes,
Tom
Tom
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Guest
If you've gone through all the logical steps of reloosening the whole rig, then retightening it methodically and something is still odd, you might consider inspecting your starboard bulkhead and make sure that as you tension your port inner it isn't pulling through rotten wood. That starboard bathroom bulkhead tends to rot if you dont' keep it nice and dry.