Tuning the Bowsprit and Boomkin

[wfraser]

Thanks for the information. The two hefty shrouds on the boomkin have turnbuckles and are currently bar tight, I adjusted the backstay dockside to a tension appropriate for its length as per Brion's video. I have a small amount of bend at the top of the wooden mast. Should the shrouds be this tight? I would tend to say yes because they are only 4 feet long and need to be this tight to avoid any flexing in a heavy seaway. There does not appear to be any downward bend in the boomkin.

The 8 foot wire bowsprit bobstay (with turnbuckle) is also bar tight. However, the two shrouds are much looser, approximating the tension on the mast lowers, which I set to 10-15%, again as per the video. Should the bowsprit shrouds be tighter given their shorter 10-12 foot run?

I purchased the boat last summer and had the stick pulled to completely re-varnish and do maintenance. It was professionally re-stepped, but as I wasn't present at the time to ask questions and am new to tuning, I need to learn this stuff from scratch. I haven't had the opportunity to do a final tuning underway.

As the man once said, there are few things better than tinkering around on boats.