Double Spreader Rigging

[gregt]

I just purchased an '84 Jeanneau Arcadia. It has a double spreader rig which I am unfamiliar with. Does anyone have a diagram for how the shrouds are configued or any advice on rigging?

[MartyB]

Greg,

What part of the rig are you trying to figure out?

The upper goes down in the middle per say, the upper middle down to the rear off of the lower spread, and their is another shroud that goes slightly forward of the mast on the lower end.

I've found that setting all the shrouds to about 15-18% of breaking works well, rear starting at 15 then tightening to 20 as the wind pipes up. THat is about 6-7 full turns on the back stay, assuming you have the same back stay adjuster I have.

I try to keep the spreaders level, by literlly sending a person up the mast with a tape, and square, then measure the ends to the deck at the same point on ea side to verify they are equal distance.

Not sure if any of this helps........

Marty

[gregt]

Thanks Marty.

The attachment of the various shrouds to the chainplates was my main question. My previous boats had single spreaders which were dead simple to figure out. From the manual, it appears that there are two chainplates abeam of the mast step which are called "aft shroud and lower shroud chainplates". There another chainplate on the boat further aft which is not in the diagram in the manual. I assume from this is that the aft upper shroud goes to the forward chainplate, the lower shroud to the second chainplate and the forward upper shoud to the aft-most chainplate. Does this sound right? Also, it looks like there is a baby stay that connects to what the manual calls the "lower stay chainplate" between the mast and the forward hatch.

Thanks as well for the advice on tensioning. That will be my next task once I get the shrouds and stays all figured out.

Greg

[MartyB]

Greg,

I believe what you wrote about the where the shrouds go to is correct. Need to go down tot he boat to figure out if that is correct. In the cabin there should be two fiberglass covers mid beam, the chain plates are behind those.

Marty

[MartyB]

Greg,

Been to the boat three times since last post. tonight I finally looked at the spreaders. Upper stay goes to most forward u-bolt, middle shroud to the middle. and lower aft. At least that is how I was rigged when I bought the boat.

I do have a baby stay, that is attached just behind the forward hatch. Rumour has it, do not sail with out this. I've also seen two boats where they put a 4-1 adjuster on this. Could be worth trying depending upon the how you sail/race etc.

Another issue, that I think has started on my boat, two others have had severe issues, is the mast plate is set on plywood below the fiberglass. THis plywood has rotted on a few boats, with the mast tumbling down while sailing! I have a small indentation that one of the owners that hadthis issue, mentioned I would need to watch this for more sinking etc.

Marty

[gregt]

Your description sounds right,and looking at mine that's what made intuitive sense. This is the way I have now rigged the shrouds. I have heard too about mast pumping and need to use the baby stay. Mine does have an adjuster on it as the previous owner raced. I'll also keep an eye out for the mast step. There is a lot of load on it so I would want to deal with any rot right away.

Thanks again for your advice!