Retuning Rigging Where Did the Slop Come From?

[forsailbyowner]

Its been a few years since I tuned my rig. On a recent hard upwind sail I noticed excessive slop inthe upper leeward shroud. Did my rigging stretch? Hull deformation? Sign of impending failure? Shrouds were installed new and oversized in 06.

[Vasco]

Unless it's rod it most probably stretched.

[ozskipper]

You forgot cabin top collapsing!! But the rig may just have stretched if its been under good use. But its oversize you say. Hmm. Check all chainplates and bulkheads. If its a deck stepped mast, check the mast post inside the boat. Looking for gaps and cracks. Also check "UP" the mast at the hounds and have a close look at how the rigging is connecting there. Check spreaders for movement.

[daddle]

Probably stretched. They are about at end-of-life. I would think you would have re-tuned several times by now.

One should sight up the rig when on a windy beat, too. Might not be just the uppers.

[SkiprJohn]

If it were both upper and lower I'd suspect compression post and cabin top deformation. In your case was there a possibility of turnbuckles working loose? How's the opposite upper shroud. At your dock is the mast straight from lowers on up? Things do stretch but not very much. Have you checked chainplates and tangs?
kind regards,

[capngeo]

Yup..... Cabin top or chain plates pulling out of bulkheads...

[casual]

Don't know the ammount of play you have I,had a like problem on a Morgan OI .The attachment point holes in the hull had enlarged upward just ware.I,fitted backing plates to the inside to align with chain plates.Worth pulling a bolt to have a look.

[sailvayu]

There are many factors involved in why your rig is getting looser. Fiberglass is a plastic and will stretch and creep over time, so the boat will change shape some over time and load. Additionally like others have said the wire rigging and its fittings can stretch some. This is all normal and does not necessarily indicate any problems. If you have gone 6 years without some adjustment I would think it high time to do some tuning. I recommend this be done at least once a year depending on your sailing style. The harder you sail the more often you should do this. Another good reason for tuning is this it gives you a chance to inspect your rigging with all the covers and tape off. Inspecting is easy to do as you adjust things. Just take the time to closely look at all the fittings and connections. Look for pulled chain plates elongated holes, worn pins, and cracked fittings. If really ambitious your can also take this time to go aloft and check things. It is important to inspect things on a regular basis, just take this time now to check things out. This way you will know for sure what is going on and can either fix it or know that everything is ok and sleep better at night and you will know your rig is well tuned to boot.

[forsailbyowner]

I did the sea tune when I spotted the slop then fine tuned for straight at the dock. I was pushing her pretty hard at the time. Gonna go up and check the tangs and all aloft before setting sail tomorrow. Still got another 200 mi left before I hole up in Tampa for a while to reup the kitty .Popped a nut off and didn't see elongation of holes in the hull.