Just scored

[Lewisboats]

I just scored a Barnett Butterfly for $150 complete. (Nope...it isn't wood...forgive me folks). The only problems I could see were a cracked tiller, some blistering on the deck and a bit of cracking in the gelcoat around the base of the daggerboard case. I suspect someone nailed something at speed with the DB...but there is no damage to the board which leads me to suspect that it might not be original. The sail, standing rigging, even the running rigging is all in good shape with some extras thrown in. Looking on the net I found that a new one costs around $4500. I also see used ones out there around the same price as what I paid but with significantly more work needed on them. I think I did pretty good...even if I eventually only use the parts off of it.
Having never sailed a boat with shrouds and a deck stepped aluminum mast...just what sort of tension should I be putting on the shrouds when I step the mast?

Looks like this (this isn't the one I bought though)

http://www.angelfire.com/ego/lewisboatworks/Stuff/IMG_2093.jpg

[switters]

good score!

I have the same question you do for my puffer.

[switters]

a little help?

He posted a picture of the boat and everything, c'mon.

[bamamick]

You want to know about shroud tension? Check the sailmakers for the class and see what the tuning guide says. You can get a Loos gauge for about $100, or you can just ping them yourself. I would imagine that you want the rigging as tight as you can stand it unless you weigh a very small amount.

Oh, and as far as the boat goes, you made an epic score as far as I am concerned.

Mickey Lake

[Henning 4148]

Looks like she doesn't carry a jib, right,? Just the main? And only the forestay and two shrouds to hold the mast up? How is the shroud arrangement on the mast - are there any spreaders or do the shrouds go plain up from the deck to their attachment point on the mast? Do the forestay and the shrouds attach to the mast at the same height or are the shroud attachment points higher than the forestay attachment point?

If she has neither a jib nor spreaders and only the forestay and the two shrouds - and the shroud attachment points are higher than the forestay attachment points - you can bend the mast with the shrouds - which helps when sailng close hauled in stronger winds. A few cm (say between 1/2 inch to 2 inch mast bend) will change the sail shape quite a bit, it is worth experimenting, the right amount can help a lot when sailing close hauled in winds, more bend in stronger winds, less in lighter winds.

If she has only the forestay and the two shrouds, no spreaders and the attachment points on the mast are at the same height - I'd guess the rig tension is not of very high importance - it will alter the bend of the mast a little bit if there is wind on the main, but actually, with higher rig tension the mast will bend more to the lee side which may not be a desired effect at all.

So - if the attachment points on the mast are at the same height, I'd start with very little rig tension, just enough for the lee shroud not to wobble around, and see how it goes.

What you would be able to do with an arrangement like assumed in both cases - is change the lean of the mast, i.e. lean it back a little or even a little more. I once heard that a mast leaning back offers better handling in stronger winds, less weather helm - this might be one of the few trim options this rig offers.

[Lewisboats]

When I went to get the boat today I talked about it to the previous owner...he has the adjusters set for just the slightest bit of slack. I will try it like this and see what happens. Boy...them thar glass boats are a bit heavy aren't they? 134 lbs quoted in the literature...feels heavier when you are trying to slide it around on the grass to get it behind the garage.

[Henning 4148]

Boat weight is an area where a lot of myths and fairy tales are told

;-)

If the boat was designed for hand laid weave and was produced in matt or even in chopped glass - it will be significantly heavier than the original design. Same if it was designed for vacuum built and was built conventionally.

Have you checked that there is no water in enclosed compartments? That would add weight as well ... A lot of weight.

[Lewisboats]

Yep! pulled the plug and lifted and wiggled it around some. No sloshing sounds and nothing out of the drain hole. It was stored inside for 3 or 4 years...should be dry. I suppose it would have slid better on it's bottom rather than on edge but I needed to slide it between a resto project and the back of the garage to lean against and keep water out of the cockpit. It won't be for long but that is where it had to go for now. I need the trailer for other things.