"Secrets of Sailboat Rigging" with Kevin Wilson of StixNRigging

The proper rigging and tuning of our sailboats is generally one of the most daunting elements of maintaining and operating our boats.  There are as many misconceptions as there are truths about the right approach to rig maintenance and turning.  Kevin Wilson provided us his expert perspectives and many interesting stories on rigging jobs he has done.  

Some Key Elements of Boat Rigging:

• Kevin reminded us of the need to inspect our rigging from top to bottom at least every six months, and the need to check the tuning of the rig each time the boat goes back into the water after being "on the hard.

•  As far as rules of thumb on shroud tightness, Kevin says each boat is slightly different, but generally a leeward shroud (the slack side) should be able to wiggle through a 4-6 inch circle when the boat is traveling to windward.  Many owners over-tighten their rigs and put unnecessary strain on the mast step and the hull.  An over-tight rig can put a noticeable indentation in the cabin top around the mast (a sure indication).
• The recommended order of tightening shrouds is to first set the rake (the amount that the whole mast is tilted off the vertical get the forestay and backstay.  Then adjust the shrouds, starting with the inner shrouds first.  Use a weight attached to a string from the top of the mast to look at the position of the mast top relative to the mast step.
• If your boat has a bowsprit, Kevin suggests setting the bobstay tension first, but don't overtighten it to bend the bowsprit down before adjusting the rake.