Standing Rig

[Steve Richardt]

What tension should there be on the stays?

[Dave]

Here is what I have sorted out based on "Tuning Your Rig" by Brion Toss, our Pacific Northwest rigging guru.

//www.briontoss.com

IF... IF you have 3/16" wire rope, breaking strength 4000 pounds.

Lowers: 10% of breaking strength (400 pounds)
Uppers, Backstay, Forestay: 15-20% of breaking strength (600-800 pounds).  I use a Loos gauge for the dockside tune.  Then you sail and adjust closehauled on port and starboard, the lee shrouds should be just slack -- too tight is wrong, too loose and you shock load the lee shrouds when you tack.

Now, I'm a cruiser.  This is the set and forget tuning I use.  The racers on the site will give you the go fast tuning.

[Dave]

Oh, yea -- always always keeping the mast straight and vertical side to side as you work.
I don't have much rake at all in my mast -- cuts back on the weather helm.