standing rigging

I just started sailing an 18 this year, and it was my understanding that the shrouds and forestay need to be tight, this makes sense to me. Recently I was at the lake, and helped a couple of guys rig their boats. One was a 14 which the guy had just bought ('81 model), the rigging was still a little sloppy in my opinion even after we had set the pins at the tightest position. THe mast was raked back enough that we had to remove the mast step link so it wouldn't catch when the mast rotated. The 16 ('82) was owned by a guy who does a lot of sailing on the coast on larger boats, very knowledgeable and lots of experience. When his cat was rigged the mast would still flop around and the stays would actually blow in the wind. He used his jib to tighten things up. Is there a difference between the different boats? What is the proper tightness of the rig, and can't you damage your boat, especially the jib if things aren't set right? Thanks for the input in advance.

Dave

Dave:

The wire forestay on a 16 is just to hold the mast up until the jib is put on and tightened. As soon as the jib is on the wire in the jib becomes the forstay and the other wire is then very loose.

An 18 uses the forestay that remains a forestay. You zip the sail onto the forstay and do not change the rig tension with the Jib.

Another thing to consider when comparing either 14s or 16s to 18s:

14s and 16s do not have daggerboards. The reason that you will think that the masts on either of these boats are raked back is...because they are. Even though the hull is asymetrical it turns out that the rudder makes a better daggerboard, so the mast is raked to load the rudder up more. You then have to kick the rudder under slightly to get rid of any weather helm that may have occured due to this. All of this is taken into consideration in the assembly instructions as this all occured many years ago.

With the daggerboards on an 18 the mast can be in a more "normal" position.

Later,
Dan

Also, on beach cats, the mast rotates while on larger cruising boat it does not. If the rigging is too tight it will not allow the mast to rotate. I have owned/sailed H14, H16, & H18's. All of them have the rigging "loose". You will and should have a little slop in the rigging. While under sail the leward shroud will be loose enought to sway in the wind.

The H18 will have the "tightest" rig of the three.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO