Do fellow boaters snicker at how loose those leeward shrouds get when beating to windward?
Do you have sleepless nights thinking about mast metal fatigue as a result of mast pumping caused by under tensioned shrouds and stays while you are leaping waves at 20mph under power?
Well now--for a limited time-- there is a solution to the Loose Rigging Blues
The Ultimate Re-purposed C-Clamp Vice Grip DIY Vernier Rigging Adjustment Tool
No more scrapped knuckles from using one of those cheap two pronged rigging twisters (insert picture here of bleeding knuckles with poorly made homemade 2 prong tool in hand)
No more asking a team of reluctant advisors to assist tensioning the rigging using multiple screwdrivers (insert picture here of a hapless crew with screwdrivers flying overboard trying to pry those channel adjusters correctly while at the same time trying to force a clevis pin in the correct holes.)
Don’t even think of partially lowering the mast to get enough slack in the shrouds to easily tighten them (insert picture here of mast dangling precariously in a semi upright position)
The solution….All you got to do is run down to your nearest Lowes (currently a clearance item at $14.97) or local hardware store and pick up a pair of Irwin 11 inch C-Clamp Vise Grips (11SP) with pivoting pads. Drill out the rivets that connect the pads (easily done with a hand drill) and replace the rivets without the pads with ¾ inch long screws that protrude about ¼ inch beyond the nut. The set up takes less than 10 minutes.
To use it.... all you do is adjust the wrench for maximum leverage, line up with two free adjusting holes on the stay adjuster and shroud end with the protruding screws and squeeze to a locking position.(flash to audience chiming in with “just set it and forget it”) Insert clevis pin and fastener in a lined up hole.
No muss, no fuss, no messy cleanup.
Always Remember:
Wear the appropriate safety gear
Use a gauge if you are unsure how much to tighten your rigging
Refer to Roger’s comprehensive section in the manual on tuning your rigging
Use the product at your own risk!
If you are adjusting the rigging while the boat is in the water, a safety line on the tool might prevent a needless swim with goggles.
Don’t be fooled by cheap imitators.
Make your own authentic Ultimate Re-purposed C-Clamp Vice Grip DIY Vernier Rigging Adjustment Tool
Before you know it, your rigging will hum like a Stradivarius playing a Vivaldi concerto.
(Closing shot of perfectly trimmed boat cruising along an idyllic shoreline with crew all waving to the camera)
? I called MacGregor, talked with "Mike", and he danced around a number. Just told me to tension the shrouds to a 1"-2" lateral movement and to make sure all rigging was in the same holes. thanks, stew
will do the 300# for the uppers, and 250# or so on the lowers. I have no complaints, but this should help with my technique. stew