MacGregorSailors.com

Hi all.
Replaced the upper shrouds - made to the EXACT length of the old ones and slightly heavier grade s/steel wire.
Looking up the mainsail slug groove, it bends to starboard near the top. I have the backstay tight and the frontstay turnbuckled tight.
Have I got the whole rig TOO tight?
having the Mac backstay to starboard, does this give the top of the mast a 'natural' bend to starboard?
Thanks in advance.
Max

If you release any backstay tension the mast should be straight. If it leans near the top, the upper shroud is tighter on that side.

http://www3.telus.net/harbro/tuning.htm

and

http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/art ... es/read/92

are good standby guides if you haven't read them yet.

Good luck.

If you went with heavier guage wires you may be putting more stress on the chain plates. It will take more tension to get them set correctly, which translates directly to the chain plates. I worried about this a bit when I did the same with my forestay. No problems so far.

I suppose the backstay could be a part of it, but most likely the starboard side shrouds are too tight, or the port side are too loose. Either way, I don't think many people tension the backstay enough to make a difference in initial rig setup.

Thanks everybody. I hope the mast is not permanently bent to s'board!
I'll take some tension off the forestay to see if it straightens out.
Thanks again