Frank Langer
1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC
Hi,
In trying to refine the rig tuning on our 1984 E30+ I borrowed a friend's Loos gauge today and found that starboard and port shroud tensions were very similar )) so that was nice. However, this evening I checked breaking strength of the different size shrouds/stays on several websites and found a substantial difference between the breaking strength of #316 1 x 19 wire vs. #302 1 x 19 wire. For example, for 1/4" wire the #316 is 6,900 lbs. compared with 8,200 lbs. for the #302--a substantial difference! The implication of this is that a certain tension would be fine for #302 wire, but could over-tension #316 wire.
I'm guessing that most riggers use #302 for normal boat standing rigging, but does anyone know this for sure? Is there a way to tell the difference between 316 and 302 by looking at it (eg. colour, shininess, etc.)?
Before using the Loos gauge I worked carefully to ensure the mast was straight and the shrouds tight enough so they would begin to feel slightly slack but not look loose on the leeward side, in about 15 knots of wind, which I think is close to correct.
Any comments or suggestions on any of this would be much appreciated!
Frank
In trying to refine the rig tuning on our 1984 E30+ I borrowed a friend's Loos gauge today and found that starboard and port shroud tensions were very similar )) so that was nice. However, this evening I checked breaking strength of the different size shrouds/stays on several websites and found a substantial difference between the breaking strength of #316 1 x 19 wire vs. #302 1 x 19 wire. For example, for 1/4" wire the #316 is 6,900 lbs. compared with 8,200 lbs. for the #302--a substantial difference! The implication of this is that a certain tension would be fine for #302 wire, but could over-tension #316 wire.
I'm guessing that most riggers use #302 for normal boat standing rigging, but does anyone know this for sure? Is there a way to tell the difference between 316 and 302 by looking at it (eg. colour, shininess, etc.)?
Before using the Loos gauge I worked carefully to ensure the mast was straight and the shrouds tight enough so they would begin to feel slightly slack but not look loose on the leeward side, in about 15 knots of wind, which I think is close to correct.
Any comments or suggestions on any of this would be much appreciated!
Frank