Mast Rigging Question

[SISU]

Good morning.

When taking the mast down at end of season, I always mark each shroud to ensure it goes back in the same position the following Spring. Last Fall, the crane had arrived, the Yard Crew was in a hurry and I neglected to attach a tag to each shroud indicating which turnbuckle it should connect to in the Spring. I recall there are three sets (lengths) of shrouds. Please help me remember-does the shortest shroud go in the forward most-position; longest shrouds in the aft-most position? Which shroud length goes in the mid-position (mast top)? Raising this question now will help avoid me snafu on launch day.  Thank you for your help!

JH

[brackish]

Longest is the upper and goes through the spreader and to the middle tang.  Shortest would be forward, but I'm not sure there is much difference if any between the two lowers, but there is a slight deck rise forward.

[Bob23]

I don't believe there is any difference in the length of the lowers. I don't remove the standing rigging from the mast in the fall when the boat's being decommissioned. There's no need to unless the rigging needs servicing.  I need to keep things as simple as possible. Just lay everything out before mast raising and take your time! And...don't forget the antenna if you have one. Don't as how I know this!!

[SISU]

Thanks very much for the rigging feedback/info.  It will come in very handy next month during launch sequence!  Thanks again and have a great sailing season.

JH

[Bob23]

JH:  A few things I've learned along the way and you may already be aware of these. Our hulls flex so make sure you do the final rig tuning with the boat in the water. And rake your mast forward slightly...the 23's seem to like this. Yes, it looks a bit funny but trust me, it works. What year is your 23...how do you like her? I absolutely love mine which is a 1985 mark 2.

[SISU]

Hi Bob.....SISU (Finnish word for 'Courage', 'Stamina', Stubbornness') is a 1990 Com-Pac-23'. I bought her direct from the Com-Pac factory 1992(?)  SISU's summer home is on a mooring north of Boston. Most of my sailing is in the Salem-Beverly-Marblehead area although I do an annual cruise from Beverly to Scituate (about 25 nautical miles) each summer.  I started my sailing career with a Com-Pac 19.  After the first season, I sold the 19' and bought the 23'.  My original goal was a 27' but now content with Sunday sails in Salem Sound and the occasional overnight passage to Scituate, Gloucester or Rockport.  If the weather ever clears, I can get started preparing SISU for the 2018 season.  So far off to a slow start (showers forecast again this afternoon, more rain of Thursday...)

[Bob23]

I too am occasionally tempted to "go bigger" but I find that my 23  is so well behaved and such a looker that I think I'm hooked. Ayuh, you sail to Gloucester you say? I'll be on Cape Ann the weekend of July 21st participating in my 4th Blackburn Challenge. It'd be cool to throw back a cold one or two if you're there. We'll see as we get closer.

[SISU]

Adding to my original message thread....

I spoke with Matt in the Com-Pac Service Department this afternoon.  Matt confirmed there are two sets of lower shrouds of different length. The AFT LOWER shrouds are two inches longer than the shrouds that go in the FORWARD LOWER position. The two upper shrouds are naturally the same length (port and starboard.)  Thought I would add this information to my original posting as someone might raise the question again in the future.  (It will also give me a place to search when I forget the correct position of the shrouds again next Spring....LoL)
 
Happy (and safe) sailing!!

[Bob23]

Thank you for keeping us informed. Who knew?