General Info: rigging tension on a cat

[Dragon Lady]

Hi Guys,

I just replaced my two lower spreader tips on my FP Lavezzi 40 which were collapsing.
The new tips are a bit thicker (and stronger I hope) so the original settings are not going to work.
I have tightened the diamonds up to a reasonable tension but not that tight.
I'm now trying to work out what the final tension should be.
I've asked my rigger but he just gave me a vague answer.
I have an etchells which I play with the rigging all the time, but this is bit more heavy duty so I'm looking for some guidance please?

[Factor]

What do FP say - Failing that - your mast supplier Failing that - someone like Allyacht spars, failing that - very tight for diamonds, the key here of course is to get the right amount of rake and pre bend. Again that should be an FP Specification.

[Ozbullwinkle]

I agree with the advice that Factor has given you and all that I would add is that from your comments you need to get another rigger or at least an opinion from another one as a vague answer regarding this would not sit too well with me.

[Dragon Lady]

Thanks guys, the vague answer I think is to protect ones work, some people are funny about sharing trade secrets.
I'll check with the Z spar Aust agents, thnks for the advice.

On a side note I was really taken back by how rough the spreader ends were.
Just a straight cut with a sharp edge, no deburring what so ever, also no washers on the attaching bolts.
Very poor in my opinion, this is taking cost cutting too far.

[MIRELOS]

Try Multihull solutions in Australia, they are the best.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Dragon Lady

On a side note I was really taken back by how rough the spreader ends were.
Just a straight cut with a sharp edge, no deburring what so ever, also no washers on the attaching bolts.
Very poor in my opinion, this is taking cost cutting too far.

Yes, I've seen many spreaders ends I thought were pretty lame too. Had a spreader end fail in a storm once and almost lost the rig (mono not cat).

Be sure and seize them well.

[MKB53]

Hi Dragon Lady

You could try Mario Ruell at Bayview Slipway. He fixed my rig after another outfit stuffed it up and seems to know what he is doing. He also talked to Multihull Solutions in the process. The pre-bend induced by the diamond is critical. From observation the tension in the diamond is pretty high.

He may not want to share "secrets" either though.

Cheers
Martin

[djmarchand]

My rigger told me that adjusting the tension to 20% of the wire's tensile strength is a typical spec for cats.

David

[Dragon Lady]

Originally Posted by MKB53

Hi Dragon Lady

You could try Mario Ruell at Bayview Slipway. He fixed my rig after another outfit stuffed it up and seems to know what he is doing. He also talked to Multihull Solutions in the process. The pre-bend induced by the diamond is critical. From observation the tension in the diamond is pretty high.

He may not want to share "secrets" either though.

Cheers
Martin

Thanks Martin, Mario is my rigger too and he showed my your rig while it was in his yard.
I'll give him a call and see if he can do it.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by MKB53

Hi Dragon Lady

You could try Mario Ruell at Bayview Slipway. He fixed my rig after another outfit stuffed it up and seems to know what he is doing. He also talked to Multihull Solutions in the process. The pre-bend induced by the diamond is critical. From observation the tension in the diamond is pretty high.

He may not want to share "secrets" either though.

Cheers
Martin

This whole secrets thing is interesting, my owners manual came with specific directions for rig tuning, no secrets and it means I can tune the rig on a regular basis. The rig was from Tempo spars in sydney

[Dragon Lady]

Thanks Factor, I wish FP gave the same support as Seawind.
Actually it would nice if they gave me any support!

I spoke to Mario and he said it was "too complicated to explain on the Phone" so I booked him in for a rig tune.
You've gotta love these guys!
Mario tells me the French built rigs keep him very busy and looking at the way they are built I can understand.
If my rig ever needs replacing there's no way I'll be using Z spar again.

[careka]

Originally Posted by djmarchand

My rigger told me that adjusting the tension to 20% of the wire's tensile strength is a typical spec for cats.

David

Thas what i did on the mono we had, but i belive that the tension is bigger on our cat. and the diamond the most.

[Dragon Lady]

Hi Guy's,

I finally managed to get the legendary Mario out to my boat on Saturday.
He had a quick look and said "it's nearly there" he made a few tweaks to the turn barrels and we were done.
It all comes down to getting the base of the mast sitting flat on the step.
As for tension he just flicks the wire and feels the resonance in it.
That's what years of experience gives you he told me some guys come along after he has done a rig tune and measure the rig with a Loos gauge so they can copy it on other boats.
The best bit was when he climbed up the rig to tighten the spreader tip clamps fee hand!
I just took up the slack for the bosun's chair, it was very impressive.