Okay, I'll throw my hat into the ring. But, I'm sorry, I have to head to the lake for a regatta. So I quickly wrote a list of my thoughts. Several areas to talk about: I've noticed new sailors are rigging or get their boats rigged wrong (including myself); there are modifications that I have done to my boat; there are things I'm considering doing to my rig; and there are things I've heard about and need more information before taking action.
I have a 2003 boat, which does not have the latest downhaul, tramp, snuffer, and jib setup. So my changes are relative to my boat. If you wish me to explain better I can, if you ask; or if others want to chime in by adding to the list; or if you just gotta say "you are just plain nuts" - that's great.
I usually avoid the complex changes and look for real issues and make simple, practical changes. I want to speed the boat up by reducing errors, easing confusion, defining crew roles better and giving each access with the minimum motion, reduce friction, a meaningful aerodynamic improvement, etc.
It needs to be a real "Tiger Bite" for me to fix it, not just a neat gizmo.
My list:
Common Rigging Mistakes
1). Didn’t pre-bend spinnaker pole
2). Did not adjust mainsheet block for easy cleating and un-cleating.
3). Put front bracing wires under spinnaker over, not under spinnaker pole
4). Mast rake – found most rigs to be fairly neutral, rather than lightly weather helm
5). Failure to release pressure on the hull by opening the hull plugs after use (read the label by the plugs)
6). Tighten the crossbars after sailing a new boat
7). Seems when diamond wires are off center by small amounts it can make a difference in the boat's performance when sailed to starboard versus port
. When you come to shore check everything and retighten, always
9). Failed to understand that the main is the rear stay – could invert mast
10). Need ball on spinnaker halyard at head of sail to keep knot out of halyard block
Modifications
1). Lengthened jib sheets and downhaul -- currently tie both to trapeze, may change
2). Pig tails to hold forward trapeze toward outside of boat
3). Reversed spinnaker sheets into a continuous line, instead of free ends, and run through pulley/ring tied to rear of tramp
4). Run retraction line through a ring on rear of tramp
5). Double stacked jib sheet pulleys, with twist shackle, while using a smaller diameter jib sheet line.
6). Smaller diameter mainsheet and a bit shorter seems better
7). Removed fairlead on top of spinnaker halyard cam block.
. Telltales on main, tried on the spinnaker but can’t make them stick
9). Bigger block on Spinnaker tack line, with stand up spring underneath
10). Sail Kote for spinnaker, once, didn’t really notice a difference in ease of snuff – blowing the spinnaker seems to work better
11). Fairlead in rear of self-tacker to hold/center preventer line
12). Started wearing T-shirts or spray jackets over my life vest to stop the vest from getting hung up in trap lines, outhauls, and so forth
Considerations
1). Adjustable hiking stick weight seems too much during tacks – anything lighter but adjustable?
2). Considering running bungee through forward cross bar to take up slack on jib sheet or downhaul instead of using the trapeze for tie-off
3). Considering adjustable mast rotation
4). New downhaul ratio – should one change to the new?
5). Sure would be nice to do something to get that other trapeze the heck out of the way! Away ideas?
Heard
1). That Jacque and Greg cut mainsheet in half. Modified jib sheet to one line and tie to main traveler line.