Can anyone advise me on the kind of rig tension I might expect to go to on my Bad Company 3206 Loafer with ali and hog stepped mast.She is in very good shape!!
Thanks in advance
Andy

250 on the forestay is a good starting point (loos gauge) say in a force 2/3. Increase as required to keep the rig in control above that 300 probably max on our 'middleaged' pride & joys.(rake 100-150mm)

Read the Merlin tuning notes on Dick Batt's website (www.battsails.co.uk) - if I recall correctly, he advised tensioning so that leeward shroud does not go slack when beating.  Seemed to work with 3227 when I had her.

That's certainly what I do with 3511 and did with 3347.  BOth have a nice adjustable purchase on the shrouds.  In older boats with the typical set-up of a muscle-box on the forestay & quadrant levers you may not have a stiff enough structure to do this (high bow tank and 20-yr old cascamite) & setting it up to reasonable tension figures before you go out and adjusting the quadrant levers between races may be all you can do.  Dan's article (link below as added by Mags on a previous forum thread) is essential reading for older boat owners.  If I'd read it at the time I might have got 3202 to go to windward.

Mags, I think this article needs a permanent and easy link on the site when you are next fiddling with it!

Not sure if 3206 has high or low bow tank as at period when changeover happened - 3227 has a low bow tank and excellent structural strength as bulkhead triangulates with end of CB case and mast foot but 3229 (also at Banbury SC) has a low bow tank.  You can wind on quite a bit of pressure with quadrant levers and muscle box on jib halyard but not easily adjustable while racing.