[C320-list] Rig Tune - Loos Gauge - Shroud Size - Hull #1092

[ART HARDEN]

I dropped my mast for the first time last year. Honestly I never really check the mast alignment till this year. I balanced the turnbuckles so they had equal thread. The marina sets the mast but does no tuning. After letting the mast and stays settle in for couple weeks I divide to tighten everything up. What I found was tension is important but also alignment I sighted up the mast and it was as crooked as a snake. The stays were tensioned but the mast was crooked. I loosened everything and started all over again. I started with the lower stays and balanced them left and right and then added tension with 2 turns port 2 turn starboard until it got tight and then dropped to 1 at a time. This would have been easier with two people but I’m an independent cuss. I stood at the bow with a 6” straight edge ruler to check alignment. I was shocked at how much it can be out of alignment especially at the top. I will suggest a 12 inch straight edge would have made sight a little easier. I will be checking tension with a loose gage after a couple of short sails. 

Just my experience thus far. 

Sent from my iPhone
Art Harden
Catalina 320 "Tortuga" E-62
937.885.9380 (o)
937.477.5544 (m)

> On Jun 23, 2023, at 9:09 PM, James Ingle via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I am in the process of attempting to tune my rig. I have read through multiple discussions on the forum but perhaps need some clarification / direction on my shroud sizes / tensions. 
> 
> My hull is #1092 built in 2007, I have a Schaefer furling mast. My mast comes off in the winter and during the 1st 2 seasons of owning the boat, I just tuned it based on measurements I took off of the turnbuckles. I can’t say there where any issues with it but I am to novice to know whats right / wrong.
> 
> Local riggers in my area (Rochester NY)  have become scarce so I purchased a Loos PT2 and PT3 gauge(s) and are attempting to tune the mast based off archived threads from this forum. 
> 
> The one discrepancy I have is my lower shrouds D1A and D1F are 5/16 verses 1/4” which is what it specified in the manual and seems to be called out in multiple threads.
> The only 1/4” shrouds I have are the intermediates and the back stay 
> 
> Unless I’m mistaken, I would need to use the Loos PT3 gauge on the lowers since the PT2 wont measure over 1/4”. If this is the case, what loos PT3 settings would I use on the lowers? I guess one way would be to just convert the PT2 numbers to the PT3? 
> 
> The Loos numbers I’m using are 
> Backstay PT2 - 30
> Caps  PT3 - 20
> Int’s PT2 - 32
> D1A PT2 - 30 (doesn’t fit) 
> D1F PT2 - 35 (doesn’t fit)
> 
> Any help would be appreciated. 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jim Ingle #1092 
> 
>