TOPIC:

Hi

I have on old Rondar Boat which I think was built in late 70s or early 80s. (sail no 5841).

She's not in bad condition considering her age and having just bought a good set of second hand sails I've decided to modernise the rig a little. I've installed a 16:1 cascade kicker and got rid of the highfield lever and replaced it with a 12:1 system on the jib halyard. I have no intention of going for a fully adjustable rig as this would probably cost about twice what the boat is worth! She does have a mast ram however.

Having downloaded a couple of tuning guides I am just wondering if rig tensions of 350lbs plus may be over the top for an old boat like mine, I'd hate to cause damage. Is this a reasonable concern? Also, are there any tips for setting up a boat which doesn't have adjustable shrouds?

I'd be vert grateful for any tips or advice. Thanks in advance.

Ian

Hi Ian

I used to have Rondar 6490.
I sounds like you have made some sensible upgrades, perhaps adding shroud levers would be worthwhile if you don't already have them, so you can release the leeward shroud downwind.
I would recommend that you dont try to get anywhere near the rig tension in the tuning guides, it would just bend the boat.
I used to sail with just enough rig tension that the leeward shroud would just be swinging in the breeze in anything above F2-3.
The mast rake figures in the tuning guide didn't work for me either. I found the boat went best with less rake than in the guides. I dont have my settings anymore, but from memory, I used to have the mast rake at around 23'10" in light to medium winds. With the front of the mast at the heel 10'10" from the transom.
There is a picture of my old boat in the registry - you can see the leeward shroud is quite loose.
www.albacore.org.uk/alb/index.php/associ...oat-register/74-6490
Regards
John