When we purchased "Skybird" she was mast-down and needed new standing rigging. Right away we put on new shrouds and a Harken Roller Furler. One thing we noticed was in heavier air and waves, the cabin top around the main traveler would raise up and down substantially. Initially, I thought we had some structural deficiencies there. Fast forward to yesterday. We stepped the mast and when tensioning the Port Lower, I could hear the cabinetry in the Head clunking as I pulled on the stay. I also could see the deck heave a bit. We pulled the cabinetry and countertop and can see the lower part of the plywood bulkhead no longer is connected to the fiberglass pan (for the toilet and shower sump) this gives up a lot of leverage and puts all the stress on the tabbing which is tearing out. Anyway, it appears to be a relatively easy fix, but got me to thinking...
I think the weight of the headsail furler is tricking me into thinking I have more backstay tension on than I think I do. The resulting movement had to be absorbed through the sail, sheet, traveler, cabin top. And also in the forward lowers. I see that right now with the mast shims out, the mast appears to be raked aft slightly, which hints maybe I need to shorten the forestay a bit. Anybody have any insight on how they set their lengths and tensions?
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