Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
There's a new boat in a slip near mine, an older Mac 25, and the couple appear to be experienced sailors, though I've yet to meet them.
When they are done sailing, they put all the standing rigging slack, I mean really slack, to the point where the mast is swaying. The boom swings wildly in even a light breeze as it isn't attached at the end either.
The shrouds look to attach to the chainplates with vernier connectors so they must be easy to loosen. It all looks pretty lightweight compared to a Catalina.
Does anybody have an idea of why one would leave a boat like this in the slip? Seems to me it would greatly increase the chance of damage in the upcoming winter storms and a freind's little houseboat would be in the path of his falling mast.
Just want to know if I'm missing something before I put my foot in my mouth when I meet the guy.
Tim Keating 1985 C-25 TR/FK #4940 Midsummer Lake Don Pedro, CA
The standing rigging on my Cal 25, which I use exclusively for racing, is very loose, with the uppers slightly relaxed and the lowers swaying very loosely when at rest in the slip. Most of our racing is in light air, and a loose rig is fast.
When I put the boat away, I put just enough tension on the backstay adjuster to take the slack out of the forestay and backstay. That prevents the rig from slamming back and forth in the slip, but the lowers are still noticeably very loose. It isn't necessary for all the stays to be taut, but the rig shouldn't be allowed to slam back and forth.
If the Mac 25 is put away with the uppers, the forestay and backstay loose on the Mac 25, then I agree that the looseness will put excess wear and excess loads on the wires and attachment points when the rig is repeatedly brought up short as the boat rolls in it's slip.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.