Mark,
"Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
Most bad things happen in 3's, but somehow you managed to get a couple extra thrown in for good measure:roll:. On the bright side though, you (should) be trouble free for a while.
Quote:
Next Problem: Wife freaking out cause every tack we hear a loud noise. She wants to go back again. After a intense (understatement) discussion we sail for an hour but eventually head back again cause I noticed that the front AKA bar is slipping from side to side. Went back to ramp - got better tools than my on-board tools and attempted to tighten. Well it still slipped. We stopped for the evening.
When I got home I tightened some more and check the internal braces - one was loose - so I tightened those too. Hopefully it is fixed? Not sure though. Anyone else ever have the front AKA slipping?
Remember...
"If Mama's not happy, no ones happy".I take it the "loud noise" you were hearing was coming from the aka brace not your wife? or was it both?
Seriously though this is the part of your story that caught my attention. Back in June I wrote about my broken Screw Socket problem, and how prior to the screw actually breaking, I would occasionally hear a strange "popping" sound from the mast receiver area when I tacked.
viewtopic.php?f=75&t=36284 I have since replaced the broken screw, and in the process of I've learned a lot more about how and why it happened, and what to watch for in the future. I believe this is an important maintenence issue for everyone and I plan on writing a more through, follow up post, on the topic at another time.
Suffice it to say, there are several forces that come into play in the area of the V-Frame Strut, Turnbuckles, Screw Socket's, and the Socket Cap Screws (the ones that actually go through the forward Cross Bar Clamps) that are important to maintain proper tension on.
At this time, you may want to check the tightness on all 3 Screw Sockets (there are two on top, and one at the base of the V-Frame). If you have the older style Screw Socket with a hex head, use a 1/8th Allen hex key to first hold the screw in place while you tighten the nylon 1/4" loc-nuts with a 7/16th's open end wrench.
How much to tighten? According to Matt, the Screw Sockets themselves are supposed to be installed into the brass inserts at the factory with blue loc-tite. The 1/4" nylon backing loc-nuts should be "tight".
I tightened mine to a specification I would best describe as not eye popping or farting tight, just tight. Good luck and keep sailing, it will keep you young.