HDC shroud/side stay tension

[passagesfromtheheart]

I've read through some former posts on the forum regarding the topic of ideal tension for the side stays for the HC and HDC, but I didn't come away with a firm understanding of what "ideal" is. I am concerned my HDCs stays are too loose.

Based upon my experience with sloops -- my Legacy, 23 MK IV, and my 25 -- the side stays were much tighter than on my HDC. Now that could be a sloop vs cat rig thing; I don't know and I don't have my "Catboat books" yet in hand to consult, and do not trust AI (meaning Artificial Intelligence/Google and the like) on this matter.

During our conversations regarding the boat, the seller of my HDC mentioned that he felt the stays were where they need to be. But this isn't a situation in which, when under sail, the leeward stay is loosey-goosey (as Gerry Hutchins had explained to me was OK on my Legacy), but I noticed when, at dockside, I went to grab onto the port side stay to steady myself, and there was considerable "play" in the stay which surprised me -- to point in which I almost still fell when grabbing the stay as it was that loose.

Would someone please enlighten me as to what the stays should "feel" like? I do not have a loos gauge -- and some experienced and pro sailors I have trained with have said to forget that device when it comes to tensioning properly -- they have taught me about how to feel what is correct. And I get it -- everybody has differing opinions on this matter, but the more opinions to consider, the better, as where things stand (pardon the pun) on my boat currently, I am admittedly concerned.

Thoughts?

Mahalo and fair winds!

[bruce]

I'm assuming you read through the thread Al started on this topic after he got his HC.
https://cpyoa.com/forum/index.php?topic=12966.msg95740#msg95740

[passagesfromtheheart]

Oh, dear!!! What a shock -- so I just re-read this thread and it has now occurred to me that, in my original post, I'd mentioned I "do not trust AI on this matter" and for some reason, "AI" (meaning Artificial Intelligence/Google and-what-not) instead came out looking like the name "Al!" I had meant Artificial Intelligence (I just clarified this on my OP!) -- I would not trust AI = Artificial Intelligence to answer my question regarding shroud tensioning on my HDC. But, yes, of course I would trust our member Al Santini's take on this topic so I will check out the thread you shared, Bruce -- thank you so much!

[passagesfromtheheart]

Bruce, that was very helpful to direct me back to that thread -- thanks, again! On an interesting note -- it turns out I had actually commented on it over a year ago, myself.

[bruce]

Here's the reference mentioned in Al's thread, of mast step failures resulting in a lost mast. In addition to harrys', read down to posts made by Bremer Speck.
https://cpyoa.com/forum/index.php?topic=3653.msg24581#msg24581

So, certainly check the mast step for it's condition!

Under sail, it's common for the leeward shroud to be loose on all the catboats. At rest, the shrouds should be equally taut but not overly tight, and will yield to hand pressure.