Shroud tension

How much tension should there be in the shrouds? Are these supposed to be taunt or can there be some slack one one side when the other is getting tension.

Tight when on the beach. The lee side always goes slack when sailing due to the sail load and mast bend.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I usually pull the jib halyard tight (moving the mast all the way forward) and then back off a couple inches before tying off to the cleat.

Should I not back off before cleating?

I am running an aussie jib halyard, do I run the halyard around the cheek block before tying off to the cleat?

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1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

Yes. I'm installing a harken cam on the mast above the cleat a little more aft to run the halyard through that first, around the cheek, and then to the cleat.....

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1981 Hobie 16
1982 Hobie 14 turbo (sold)
1996 SeaDoo GTI
1999 Hunter 340

Hi Matt! Found this post, I had the same question, but are the shrouds tight on the beach with sails raised?

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'81 H16 yellow hulls

The shrouds won't get tight until your raise the jib and tension the jib halyard. Without the jib hoisted, the shrouds should be loose. Once you tension the jib halyard, the mast will pull forward, the shrouds will tighten, and the forestay will go slack - the jib halyard wire acts as the forestay when sailing.

You should pull on enough tension that the shrouds are snug when fully rigged, but not so tight that the mast has problems rotating properly.

sm

This makes sense, thanks!

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'81 H16 yellow hulls