wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:21:28 -0500, "mr.b" wrote:

On Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:26:23 -0400, Wayne.B wrote:

On Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:51:43 -0500, "mr.b" wrote:

I'm looking for tuning hints here. It's just a conventional masthead
rig with single lower shrouds and no backstay tensioner installed.
Headsails are hank-on. Main has 3 full battens.

If the rig tuning is off it should show up as a difference in sail
shape. Does the main seem fuller or flatter from one tack to the
other?

no appreciable difference that I can see

How about head stay sag?

as I said, it sags probably 5 inches anyway off-centre. This can't be
right. I guess my biggest concern is over-tightening the shrouds and
stays. The seldén.com reference offered by another poster shows
tightening turnbuckles a 3-4 mm. past hand tight will have your shrouds
at 15% of their breaking strength which they recommend as correct. I
think I've got 10mm past had tight already and the rig seems to me to be
way loose, at least on the one tack. Another poster recommends a Loos
gauge. Perhaps a useful tool.

Are the jib leads in exactly the same
position?

leads are same size, same brand, same position on their tracks

Have you tried adjusting them separately?

Yes, but there is no apparent difference in jib shape or position -it's
brand new i.e., 4 hrs of sail time.

Is the jib "luff" - leech
the same distance off the spreaders on both tacks?

yes, the clew on this #3 just reaches the spreaders so it's very easy to
judge

Many paddle wheel knot meters read differently on opposite tacks.

now this is something I'm going to have a closer look at as well.

When I was working with high tech instrumentation on my old Cal-34 we
ended up installing port and starboard paddle wheels with a switch box
which I
had to remember when tacking. It sounds like your boat is actually
handling differently however, not just a speed difference. If all else
fails try to get an experienced rigger and/or sailmaker to go out with
you.

thanks for the questions, it helps focus the mind. I've got some guys on
the dock who've been there and back. If I can't get this sorted out in
the next day or two, I'll ask for help.
Cheers

Bear in mind that too loose is more stressful and wearing on the
rigging than too tight. "Just right", is obviously better than either
too loose or too tight, but if you have to err on one side or the
other...

Many people alos make the mistake of releasing all tension on their
adjustable backstay when leaving the boat. If you leave the forestay
slack, it's constantly working all the turnbuckles and that is BAD.


If your paddlewheel is off center as most are, you will get a different
reading from port to starboard tack as the flow will be different.
If you are trying to get the same reading on both tacks you may be
"over trimming" thus making the boat "seem" to handle differently
on one tack vs the other. I doubt it's the rigging. More likely the way
the boat is loaded side to side. Move your crew around and see what happens.
Regards
JR