Tight Rig Setup

Setting Shroud Length

The shrouds control the rake of the mast as the forestay tension pulls forward.  The shroud extenders provided allow you to set the length shorter than the standard extenders, which allows the rake to move aft.

1. Remove the old extenders.
2. Attach the center hole of the new extenders to the top hole of the chain plate.
3. Attach one end of the new extenders to the shroud. The shortest spacing gives the maximum rake.
4. Raise the mast and tension the rig to at least 150 lbs.
5. Check the rake carefully.

Measuring Rake

1. Attach a steel tape measure to the main halyard placing the shackle pin through the opening at the end of the tape measure.
2. Raise the tape to the top of the sheave with the halyard winch.
3. The top is defined as when the shackle just hits the sheave. 
4. It can be felt by having someone provide a little tension as you get near the top and feeling when the tension on the winch handle changes as the shackle starts to rotate around the sheave.

Setting Forestay Extender

The Layline Extender has close hole spacing to allow you to make relatively small changes in tension.

1. Attach the forestay to the top hole of the extender.
2. Apply tension to rig as described below.
3. Attach the forestay wire from under the deck to the 3^rd hole from the bottom.  This will become your maximum tension setting.
4. This will probably require that the turnbuckle be loosened.  Recruit a crew that’s willing to stay there a few minutes.
5. With the pin in the 3^rd hole adjust the turnbuckle until you get the maximum forestay tension recommended by your sail maker.
6. Rewire the turnbuckle.
7. You now have two setting for lower tension when the air is lighter.  Remember you only need enough tension to prevent the forestay from sagging to achieve the benefits of the tight rig. 

Tensioning the Rig

A variety of techniques have been used to provide tension as follows:

• The spinnaker halyard, or more commonly the jib halyard, is connected to the trailer winch and tightened. 

• CAUTION Attach a safety line to the boat to prevent tipping unexpectedly. Never apply enough tension to make the mast bend out of column.

• The jib halyard is attached to the bow plate and tension applied with a 3/8” socket drive (no socket) in the winch.  The tool is called a “breaker bar”.

• A few crews can attach the jib halyard in the same way and can plug the middle of the forestay aft to get the tension needed.

If the mast is out of column to either side when under the recommended tension the mast probably has a bend that is being exaggerated by the tension.   This needs to be corrected before sailing with this much tension.

For additional information on how to set up your Scot for the tight rig, contact Dave Batchelor.

Layline offers a set of chainplate extenders and forestay extender that allows you to achieve the recommended mast rake with out making modifications to your current hardware.

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