Standing Rigging Affects Pointing?

[OldFrog75]

What would cause a boat to consistently point higher on one tack to windward than the other.

[Svan]

The windward side where you are getting bad pointing is probably too loose. Do you have access to a tension gauge? Many racers have one knocking around.

[Jim Cate]

How are you determining that this is really the case? If you are using an apparent wind indicator, it is quite possible that it has not been correctly "centered". That is, when you are truly head to wind, it isn't reading zero. IME, getting that set exactly right is not a trivial task... at least on my boats.

Otherwise, it can be due to an asymmetrical keel, a slightly bent rudder shaft, or a canted mast.

Cheers,

Jim

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

How are you determining that this is really the case? If you are using an apparent wind indicator, it is quite possible that it has not been correctly "centered". That is, when you are truly head to wind, it isn't reading zero. IME, getting that set exactly right is not a trivial task... at least on my boats.

Otherwise, it can be due to an asymmetrical keel, a slightly bent rudder shaft, or a canted mast.

Cheers,

Jim

Yes, all the above. Also, if there is significantly more weight on one side of the boat, like batteries in the port locker, water or fuel tanks on the port side then the boat will sail more upright on the port tack and probably point a little closer.

[roverhi]

Many boats are layed up in two halves then joined together. Possible that the mold for one side has slightly better hydro dynamics resulting in better pointing on one tack. If the boat has a bolt on keel, that could be an issue as well. Keel castings are usually pretty rough and shape not completely symmetrical from side to side. Last but not least, if it's a bolt on lead keel, it could have been twisted in a grounding resulting in a different angle of attack

[Stu Jackson]

Many ways to simply say that boats aren't perfectly equal on each side. Inside or out. Don't sweat it, it's a reality.

[GregSteimel]

I'd say take a halyard from one rail to the other to see if your mast is centered. You'd be surprised how far off it can get.


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[2Wind]

I'm with JIM CATE on this one.

Setting up my new masthead wind instrument has taken months of fine tuning, and even then your still guessing.

....."Sail directly into the wind and adjust the analog pointer to zero, using the

vmg and tack keys. If you are unable to achieve the required degree of accuracy

due to sea conditions, and errors become apparent during subsequent tack operations, repeat this procedure to achieve alignment accuracy"...

Its all hocus pocus. at then end of the day, I've adjusted mine so that my tack angles are equal, whether they are truely or otherwise. No one can steer perfectly into the wind at zero degrees yet this is the means by which you are expected to calibrate the device. Think of the wind instrument as a guide. Otherwise sail the boat by the feel and by the tell tails.

[bstreep]

Lots of good advice above. It's also not unusual to find differences - Catalina 30s have chainplates in different spots from port to starboard!

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Many ways to simply say that boats aren't perfectly equal on each side. Inside or out. Don't sweat it, it's a reality.

I've never had a boat that didn't have a preferred side. Also, if your prevailing winds and prevailing waves are consistently mis-aligned in the area you usually sail, you could be persuaded that one tack is always better.

As far as rig tension. Try both tacks and lie at the base of the mast and compare the mast bend and slack in the leeward shrouds. You should easily see a difference.

I never have been able to get my apparent wind instrument centered. I just deal with it mentally.

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by 2Wind

I'm with JIM CATE on this one.

Setting up my new masthead wind instrument has taken months of fine tuning, and even then your still guessing.

....."Sail directly into the wind and adjust the analog pointer to zero, using the

vmg and tack keys. If you are unable to achieve the required degree of accuracy

due to sea conditions, and errors become apparent during subsequent tack operations, repeat this procedure to achieve alignment accuracy"...

Its all hocus pocus. at then end of the day, I've adjusted mine so that my tack angles are equal, whether they are truely or otherwise. No one can steer perfectly into the wind at zero degrees yet this is the means by which you are expected to calibrate the device. Think of the wind instrument as a guide. Otherwise sail the boat by the feel and by the tell tails.

Or just go out on a day with zero wind and motor in a straight line. That will give you your zero. Helps if you sail somewhere like the PNW in summer where you actually get days with zero wind.

[Stumble]

The only boats I have sailed that didn't favor one tack over the other had extensive work done to acomplish it. For anything but a well funded racing program it really isn't worth it, once you know how your boat handles you can decide how to respond.

[who_cares]

Can't believe no one's mentioned jib leads yet. Obviously if they're in different places you'll have a different shape and different pointing abilities. Even if they're in the same spot according to holes in the track, there's no guarantee that the tracks are symmetrical.