[C320-list] rigging

[Bruce Heyman]

Jeff,
Thanks for all the help!  I like the idea of the toggle on the back stay and
unless I currently have negative rake that is the approach I'm going to
take.
Again thanks,
Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Church [mailto:jjemail at comcast.net] 
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 11:41 PM
To: bruceheyman at cox.net; C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] rigging

Bruce,

> >The manual does not discuss pre-bend, does everyone tune for straigt?
Our masts are very stiff and don't allow for much pre-bend, but if you 
adjust the forward lower shrouds tighter than the aft lowers you can 
encourage a little mast bend when you haul in the backstay adjuster.

> >It also says that you can adjust for 0 to 1 percent rake....
I think the manual calls for 1 degree of rake. I've tried 1 degree of rake 
and had a bit too much weather helm, so I reduced the rake to just about 
zero. You can get a rough idea how much rake you have if you hang something 
heavy from the main halyard and use it as a plumb bob. You'll have 1 degree 
of rake if there is an 8 inch space between the back of the mast and the 
halyard, at the base of the mast.

>> The backstay seems very tight and very dificult to get installed.
I added a 2" eye jaw toggle to the backstay.
http://schaeferhardware.com//SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=223

The C320 manual gives you the basic instructions for centering the mast, and

you can get some good info from Mark Yeager's Rig Tune and Sail Selection 
article on the C320 site.
http://www.catalina320.com/article.php/20040828173431380
I disagree with one of Yeager's points related to rig tuning. He suggests 
adding a toggle to lengthen the forestay instead of the backstay. He says 
this will give you more mast rake, but the length of the forward lowers 
limits the maximum amount of rake to about 1 degree. At that point the 
forestay is no where near the end of its adjustment, so why add a toggle?

Yeager has another curious suggestion. He says that you should be able to 
swing the forestay in a 1 foot diameter circle. I've got my rig adjusted for

the amount of forestay sag that he suggests, and I haven't found a single 
point of sail or wind condition where easing the backstay adjuster all the 
way off and letting the forestay sag that much yields better boat speed. My 
sailmaker agrees. He checked the rig when he delivered new sails and said 
that the forestay is too loose. Also, unless you have a very long backstay 
adjuster (mine is limited by the height of the bimini) you'll have 
difficulty getting enough forestay tension. You might try for half the sag 
that Yeager calls for.

I hope that helps.

JeffC





----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bruceheyman at cox.net>
To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 6:02 PM
Subject: [C320-list] rigging


> I'll be tuning the rig tomorrow for the first time.
>
> The manual does not discuss pre-bend, does everyone tune for straigt?
>
> It also says that you can adjust for 0 to 1 percent rake.  What does 
> everyone recommend.  We want a little weather helm.  Also I assume that 1 
> percent means the head of the mast will be 1 percent of the spars length 
> back from vertical.
>
> The backstay seems very tight and very dificult to get installed.  Since 
> it is adjustable I expected that it would be floppy when released.  Any 
> advice?
>
> Any other tips or lesons learned would be much appretiated.
>
> Bruce
> Somerset 671 So Cal
> Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Richard A. Walker" <dickwalker at att.net>
> Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:53:15
> To:"'C320-List'" <c320-list at catalina320.com>,"'Philip Migdal'" 
> <pmigdal at san.rr.com>,"Hugh Curnutt" <hcurnut1 at san.rr.com>,"'Gregg Bambo 
> Jr.'" <MBambo at comcast.net>
> Subject: [C320-list] Charts
>
>
> Check out this site for free on-line viewing of the Governments Charts.
>
> http://nauticalcharts.gov/viewer/
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dick Walker
> C-320 (687) WindWalker II
> 740 Olive Ave.
> Coronado, CA 92118-2136
> 619.435.8986
>
>
>
>
>