Tightening standing rigging

[Mike Dowling]

I have put all the standing rigging for the masts and bowsprit on but loosely. My question is should I tighten them from the stern or the bow?

 

[Y.T.]

Standing rigging must be tight. each mast is balanced by shrouds versus the stays. Try tightening so that each mast is hardly movable.

 

[Corsair]

Mike, in regard to your question, it doesn't matter much where you start, as long as you always work in opposite pairs.
If you tighten the stay to the bow, tighten the stay to the stern before you quit.
if you tighten a shroud on the port, make sure to tighten a shroud on the starboard.
Some like to do the stays first as the shrouds can get in the way. Some like to do the shrouds first as the stays can get in the way.
also, if there are multiple levels, do the bottom ones first.
I hope that helps.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

The sequence of tightening your rigging is exactly the same as the one putting it on. First lower shrouds going from fore to aft, then the main stays. then upper shrouds, backstays and stays. Then again topgallant shrouds, backstays and finally the stays, all that going from aft going foreward. The tension should be such that at the end, no cable has a visible sag. Not easy!

 

[Mike Dowling]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I guess I should have been more specific. I am making Sovereign of the seas along with loads of others.
Rigging wise I have done all the shrouds and all the ratlines (My that was so much fun!!!!) so they are all lovely and tight. It is all the rest. I have put all of it on but not tensioned it as yet. I understand about doing opposite sides - no problem but, having had trouble keeping everything tight before should I tension from the stern or from the bow?

 

[Roger Pellett]

One of the jobs of the standing rigging is to control the rake (or slant relative to the keel) of the masts. This affects the sailing performance of ship by adjusting how the wind hits the sails. Naval architects would call this “moving the center of effort of the rig.) The fore and aft rigging is particularly effective at doing this.

So you need to juggle this fore and aft rigging until the rake of the masts is correct- per your drawings. Tighten it but don’t permanently fasten it down. Then stand back and look at your model. It will take several tries tightening or easing off various lines to get things correct.

Roger

 

[CarlosE]

Alternating sides so you don’t pull the mast out of alignment. Keep checking the masts from different angles as you tighten the rigging.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I guess I should have been more specific. I am making Sovereign of the seas along with loads of others.
Rigging wise I have done all the shrouds and all the ratlines (My that was so much fun!!!!) so they are all lovely and tight. It is all the rest. I have put all of it on but not tensioned it as yet. I understand about doing opposite sides - no problem but, having had trouble keeping everything tight before should I tension from the stern or from the bow?

Only just enough tension so it doesn't hang through. Otherwise you will slacken all the rest of the (standing) rigging.

 

[ERSRich]

My preference is Bobstays first, then stays from Fore to Aft, Botton to Top.

Align the Bowsprit first, Port and Starboard (perpendicular to the keel), then up and down. Tighten and secure this rig, the bowsprit will be a Port Starboard reference to align the masts.

Good luck,

-Rich