Need Questions for Luring the Unwary

[amalling]

Originally Posted by Norm Moore

Just a little tongue in cheek... The recent discussion on the use of high modulus rope in standing rigging I'm sure would get lots of interest. I picked up a copy of Good Old Boat today and there is an article by Ted Brewer on standing rigging and he only discussed wire rope, discussed 7x7 galvanized, which is hard to find in sizes greater than 1/4". Give them a look at Precourt's synthetic rigging systems and that should start a healthy conversation.

[whistling] What are you talking about ;-)

Anyway, being a newbie and all, maybe a few question to answer is,
how important is (the lack of ) weight aloft?

Backswept spreaders - why? I have heard they eliminate the backstay, is that true?

What do spreaders do - how do they work, and how do I set them up properly. How will I tell if my rig is well-tuned?

(and reading your story about chainplates not being fastened enough - or at all!! - maybe about that - i.e.)

Or about maststepping, how to do it, on a keel-stepped mast.

How much tension should it have?

Pros and cons of wire rigs contra , say, spectra ... the question could be something like "I'm about to rerig my boat. It's a 30-something family cruiser. I have been told I need to have my entire standing rig renewed, and I wonder if I could use the modern ropes such as spectra?" I don't know what a typical boat would be, but, say, 34ft, one set of spreaders, etc., plastic tub (i.e a very high cabin, wide as h...

Was it you also that wrote a fine piece about metals being a fad, and that ropes (spectra etc) would take over again? Heh, okay, I tightened the angle a fair bit ...

Oh, a good one, methinks:

Why do my boat go upwind better to starboard than to port?