STANDING RIGGING
Standing Rigging, the fixed rigging supporting your mast, should be
inspected frequently to ensure trouble-free sailing.
New rigging will often form a thin layer of rust, especially at the
terminal ends. This is caused by impurities surfacing when the wire is
cold worked during the manufacturing process. The oxidation should
eventually stop forming and when it does, the stain should be removed
with an unchlorinated cleanser. If the rusting persists after several
cleanings, contact your dealer.
Turnbuckles should be checked that there are sufficient threads exposed
and that the cotter pins are in place and taped over.
The judicious use of a silicone-lubricant on sail, genoa, and traveller
tracks works well to keep these running free in a salt air environment.
Sheaves should be disassembled occasionally, washed, and well lubricated
with a thin oil.
Check the spreaders to be certain that they are angled upward 6 degrees
to horizontal. The spreader tip should be securely seized to the shroud
and it all protected by some form of chafing gear.
Once a month you should go aloft and check all shrouds, tangs, masthead
assembly, etc. to be certain all bolts are tight and all cotter pins are
in place.
SAILS
Sails should be protected from chafe by padding spreaders and other gear
or by installing chafe patches on the sails themselves. Spreaders and
shrouds can chafe genoas and other overlapping jibs when those sails are
sheeted in tightly and can chafe the mainsail when running before the
wind. Topping lifts frequently chafe the leach of the mainsails.
Inspect your sails frequently and take care of chafed stitching or small
tears before they become a major problem. A small ditty bag with some
thread and a few sail maker's tools on board can come in handy and save
you considerable expense in the long run.
Sails should also be protected from sunlight as much as is practical.
Ultraviolet light can break down the dacron in the sai1 cloth and
stitching. Sai1s that are left furled on booms, jib club booms, and
forestays without suitable covers are most susceptible to this problem.
Suitable sail covers are available from Cape Dory through your dealer.
Mildew is no longer the major concern that it was in the days of natural
fiber sails. Your new sails should be dry before folding if for no
other reason than to prevent the unsightly growth of this dark mold.
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