PART II .....how to install the rigging
.....installing fittings to the
hull
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Fittings for the running and
standing rigging must be capable of resisting considerable strains. Therefore,
it is always recommended that fittings be through bolted whenever possible,
with the fitting being backed up with oversized solid blocking, especially on
the underside of thin fiberglass or plywood surfaces such as decks. Use large
flat washers under nuts, and bedding compound under the fittings to prevent
leaks. Where it is not possible to use through bolts, then long screws of the
largest possible shank diameter should be used, driven into solid material
below. These rules apply to fittings wherever they may be required, whether on
cabin tops, cockpit soles, decks, or centerboard trunks.
On wood hulls, finding solid
material or providing solid backing blocks is usually a simple matter. On
fiberglass hulls, backing blocks may have already been fitted when the hull was
fabricated, or the hull may have been reinforced with extra laminate build-up
in the area where fittings are to be located. If this hasn't been done in
one form or the other, the builder must provide the solid backing material to
receive the fastenings for the fitting. The wood blocks can be secured in place
with a resin saturated piece of fiberglass cloth or mat.
Fastenings in all cases are
preferably a non-corrosive type, which usually means stainless steel, bronze,
or at least hot dipped galvanized. Do NOT, however, use hot dipped galvanized
fastenings with, for instance, bronze fittings, as the two metals are
dissimilar and corrosion will dissipate the fastener (at least in salt water).
A good rule-of-thumb is to use the same type material in the fastenings as is
used in the fitting, except that stainless steel can be used to fasten into
aluminum.
INSTALLING CHAINPLATES
Chainplates may be located on the
outside of the hull, usually along the gunwale or hull side rail. For a neater
appearance, however, it is more common to have them located inside the hull,
projecting through the deck or cabin top. When they are located inside, this
usually means that they must be mounted in position prior to the completion of
the hull, and especially before the decking is applied (see Fig. 7-1). The
position of the chainplates should be determined by the designer or
manufacturer of the boat. This position will usually be in conjunction with a
main strength member such as the hull sides, structural bulkhead, or other
longitudinal framing member. As with other fittings, solid backing blocks, or
extra reinforcing of the hull on fiberglass boats, should be provided for
mounting the chainplates.
FIG. 7-1 - If building a boat and through-deck
chainplates are called for, they should be installed and bolted in place before
the deck is applied. The photo shows the chainplates bolted in position on each
side, protruding far enough above the deck line to receive the turnbuckle or
other stay hardware. (Glen-L 10 is shown)
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Chainplates can be made of any
strong metal as long as it is non-corrosive. However, it is common to purchase
ready made chainplates which are usually made from stainless steel strap with
holes usually drilled in each end. If in doubt about which size chainplate to
use, always pick one that is larger and as long as practicable. Always bolt the
chainplate in position with at least two bolts per unit. Be sure to let the top
end of the chainplate extend far enough above the deck or cabin top to allow
the shrouds to be attached. Where chainplates protrude through the deck or
cabin top, the hole should be sealed in a water proof mastic. Special covers
are available which match the ready-made chainplates to cover the hole and
"dress up" the area where the chainplates pass through.
If in doubt about the location of
the chainplates, remember that they are located as far outboard as possible, as
far as strengthening the mast is concerned. They must not, however, interfere
with sail handling; especially when a jib is used. Also, if a single shroud on
each side is used, the chainplates are usually located a little aft of the
mast. When upper and lower shrouds are used, the chainplate for the upper
shroud is usually directly to the side of the mast. The chainplates for the
lower shrouds are then located a slight distance forward or aft of this
chainplate. When more than one chainplate is required per side, they should be
separated by a distance of at least several inches in order to transfer the
strains to the hull.
INSTALLING DECK FITTINGS
Deck fittings such as blocks,
cleats, winches, tracks, and related items should be installed with bolts or
long screws as previously noted. Fastenings are usually not provided with the
deck fittings when purchased because the lengths will vary from boat to
boat.
In installing fittings such as for
the mainsheet, it is advisable to mock-up the arrangement before fastening
anything permanently in position, especially if you are not familiar with the
configuration, or are figuring out your own arrangement. Tape the fittings in
position and check to see that all fittings are in the proper position and
plane of reference for smooth operation. It would be mighty embarrassing to
find that a cam cleat, for example, was fastened in backwards! While the
designer will probably note the positions of the various fittings, the best
locations for the fittings can be determined. Also check the position of the
various jam cleats which will be used to belay the various sheets and halyards.
Obviously these jam cleats must have a "fair lead" to the line and be
in a position so the line will stay secure. Always locate jam cleats so the
pull of the line is at right angles to the line of the fastenings; not in line
with them which will tend to pull the cleat out.
If your rig has a jib, care must be
taken in locating the jib sheet lead points; the position where the lines
controlling the trim of the jib intersects with the hull. Designers use a
formula for determining these positions and it has been noted previously and in
Fig. 5-16. The builder can also use this formula, but because conditions of
use, the sails, and boats in general vary, the best method for determining jib
sheet leads is by actually sailing the boat and pinpointing the lead position
while using the jib. Admittedly, this may seem tedious and inconvenient, but on
the smaller boats with jibs up to about 50 square feet, it is really not too
much effort.
With either method, once the correct
point is determined, a fixed or adjustable lead fitting can be installed. On
small boats, a fixed lead need consist of nothing more than a fairlead fastened
to the deck on each side for each jib sheet. On larger boats, or where more
efficiency is desired, a track can be used on either side with a sliding
fairlead. This method allows for variable trimming of the sheet when underway,
which is desirable when the conditions of sailing change. This track for the
jib would be located so the mid-length of the track is positioned at the point
found to be most efficient. The track used for the jib is usually at least
12" long. On larger boats that use a Genoa, a separate track is provided
for this sail, each side of the boat. The lead point for the Genoa can be found
by the trial-and-error method, but because of the size of the sail, this is
difficult, to say the least. For this reason, it is better to use the formula
provided to determine the lead point for the Genoa, and then use a longer
length of track for the fairlead slide so that variations are possible. In most
cases the Genoa track is located fairly parallel along the sheer rail as far
outboard as practical. Track stops must be provided for all jib and Genoa
tracks at the ends so the slides will not come off when underway.
When winches are required for
handling sheets and halyards, their position must be carefully determined.
Halyard winches are generally fastened to the mast, but are really not
considered necessary equipment on the size boats being considered here. This
leaves winches which are used for the jib or Genoa sheets. Here again the
position of the winches will usually be noted by the designer, but as stated
previously, this will be an approximation, and the exact position for the
winches is best determined in use once the sheet lead points are known, or at
least mocked-up.
In locating winches, several things
must be considered. First, the winch must be near at hand and convenient to
use. If it has a handle, clearance must be allowed for a full circle swing.
Winches may be located on deck, but it is common to raise them up on blocking
in order to clear cockpit coamings. If the winch is blocked up, this blocking
should be angled so the lead of the sheet from the track is fairly horizontal
to the winch. A cleat is always used to secure the sheet after taking turns
around the winch. These cleats are preferably in a horizontal plane with the
winch as well.
When installing "outboard"
rudders on the transom, gudgeons and pintles, as described in the previous
chapter, are used. Sometimes inboard rudders are used, and these are usually
detailed on the plans by the designer. With "outboard" rudders, most
commonly the pintles are bolted to the rudder. The gudgeons are then screwed or
bolted to the transom. Most boats use a set of two each, and these should be
spaced as far apart as possible to distribute the strain on the rudder. Install
a rudder stop if there appears to be any tendency for the rudder to float up
and out of the gudgeons. Any number of types of rudder stops are available,
some of which may be integral with the rudder fittings. Another method which
can be used but is not very seaman-like is to bend the pintles with pliers so
they fit tighter in the gudgeons.
Installing the mast step may not
require any fittings if the mast is to be stepped through the deck and
provisions have been made in the hull structure. However, with masts that are
to be stepped on the deck or cabin top, a means of securing the mast is
required, and this is usually by the mast step fitting such as shown by Figs.
7-2, 7-4, and 7-5. As noted previously, several types of steps are available.
Depending on the design, reinforcing below the mast step may be required, such
as a mast stanchion or large deck beam. The reason for this extra support is
that the mast is in direct compression onto the boat and the considerable
strain must be transferred throughout as large an area of the structure as
possible. So it is important that the mast step be located directly over these
strength members and rigidly mounted. Mast steps are preferably through bolted
in any case.
Chapter 8
Contents
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