Melges 32 Tuning Guide
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For any question you may have on tuning your Melges 32 for speed, contact one of our Melges 32 experts listed below: ONE DESIGN ZENDA Andy Burdick . Harry Melges . Jim Gluek 262 275 9728 F 262 275 8012 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ONE DESIGN WEST Vince Brun 619 226 1415 F 619 224 7018 [email protected] ONE DESIGN RHODE ISLAND Chuck Allen . Will Welles 401 683 7997 Melges 32 F 401 6833 9121 [email protected] [email protected] Tuning Guide NORTH SAILS Melges 32 Tuning Guide This guide has been written to get and tighten the lowers so they read #5 on the most out of your new Melges 32. TUNING THE RIG the PT-3. This is a good set up if you are North Sails has been the pioneer in sail sailing in predominantly light air venues development in the class and will strive to STEP ONE: as it sets the mast up with a bit of sag at give you any new information that arises. base. If you are sailing in venues with a Please keep in mind that this information With slack lowers and intermediates, bit more breeze you should set up to these is partial. Sailing venues and conditions tighten the upper shrouds to #6 on the numbers: 4,000psi on the jack, and #12 vary; you may find slightly different Model PT-3 Loos tension gauge (be sure to on the uppers using the PT-3 gauge, 19 settings that work better for you. place the tension gauge below the chafe on the Intermediates using the PT-2 gauge guard on the shrouds, slide the chafe and 6 on the Lowers using the PT-3 gauge. guard up out of the way). It is a class rule This set up will produce a straighter rig at that the upper shrouds be set up at the base and is better in more breeze. Final Tuning the Rig light air setting with the mast jack all the tuning of the intermediates and lowers way down. That way you can simply go needs to be done on the water going to all the way down for light air, or if there is windward, but this should get you in the a jack failure, you are closer to the correct ball park. PRIOR to STEPPING THE MAST: settings and can safely continue racing without risk of mast failure. Center the STEP THREE: HeasdstaY LENGTH rig. Using a bucket at least ½ full of water This length is measured from the center with a lanyard tied on the handle, attach Check the rig for overall straightness both of the pins at the hounds and the stem the jib halyard to the end of the lanyard at the dock and again while sailing by fitting and should equal 42’7” or 12980. and suspend the bucket off the side of sighting up the mainsail track. Adjust the The headstays are set at the factory to the boat at the chainplate area. With a shrouds appropriately to get the mast this length. The other measurement to marker, hold the marker flat on the deck straight. Secure the turnbuckles with double check mast rake is to pull a 100’ just in front of the chainplates and place a the Velcro wrap provided. Note: This tape measure up the main halyard, latch mark on the lanyard. Transfer the bucket is a starting point for the Lowers and the ball at the highest setting and measure to the other side of the boat and repeat Intermediates, you must go sailing to 52’10” to the bottom corner of the to see if the mast is centered. If the mast fine tune the set up on the lowers and transom at the hull. is in centered, the marks will line up, if Intermediates. The basic guideline is to not adjust the rig until you have matching set up the mast with approximately ½” MAST BUTT PLACEMENT marks. This method insures even tension of leeward sag from the boom to the The base of the mast should be positioned on the jib halyard from side to side. uppers with the jack pressure off if you 7” measuring from the aft shiny molded use version #1 above. As you jack up the surface of the main bulkhead to the STEP two: rig the sag will come out and make the center of the socket in the mast step plate mast stiffer allowing more backstay to (Typically this is close to max. forward). Now that the mast is in centered and the be applied. Version #2 above produces Once the mast butt is in position tighten upper shrouds are tensioned to 6, it is a straighter mast side to side and tighter it down to secure it. Check the hydraulic time to tune the intermediate shrouds. diagonals as soon as you go on the jack ram for any dirt, or foreign objects before Tighten the intermediates so the slack which stiffens the mast. North E Scow Experts connecting the hose. Make sure the fluid is taken out and they are hand tight plus level is at least ¾ full. You will have to 1.5 to 2 turns. Site up the aft side of the The hydraulic jack can be relied on for tension but it is a good idea to have some NORTH SAILS ONE DESIGN ZENDA open the valve on the hydraulic pump to mast to insure the tunnel is straight side connect the hose, and the silver safety to side. Next, Pump up the jack until you secondary reference checks in case of a P (262) 275-9728 F (262) 275-8012 jack gauge failure. If you attach a batten Sam Rogers [email protected] valve. are at 4,000psi, or most importantly #14 Andy Burdick [email protected] on the uppers using the PT-3 Loos tension on the deck tie wire and place marks on Harry Melges [email protected] gauge. Now, tighten the intermediates so the back of the mast with corresponding Gordy Bowers [email protected] they read #17 using a PT-2 tension gauge marks on the batten for given jack Jamie Kimball [email protected] Visit our web site at www.OneDesign.com for the latest Melges32 news and tuning tips. 1 © 2009 North Sails One Design. All rights reserved. NORTH SAILS Melges 32 Tuning Guide pressures and rig tensions this will give Now all you will do is adjust the Jack in could experiment with 9 factory holes you the proper secondary checks to make increments of 500 PSI on the ram. There showing aft of the car and in very windy sure your rig is set correctly in the varying are times in heavy air with big waves that conditions you could experiment with the conditions. Another method is to use a it may be beneficial to take up 2 turns car further aft. We have found that in caliper and measure the gap between the on each Lower to help stiffen the bottom most conditions 8 holes showing is very bottom of the mast and the top of the of the mast and achieve better headstay fast. Bottom line is in flat water you can mast step plate. tension. Also, we have experienced better sometimes get away with the car slightly speed and headstay tension in a breeze further aft, and vica versa in waves. Once with 5 turns on the headstay when we you find the sweet spot you will find that On the Water jack up to 2500psi. Note that the jack will you rarely move the jib lead. It also will immediately start at 1000 PSI if the upper not hurt to drill some additional holes in shrouds are set at 6 on the Loos gauge. between the factory holes for fine tuning CHANGING BREEZES of the lead position. Traveler Notes: : In waves it is better to Tuning is now complete for 0-6 kts. See work with the traveler higher and a softer Backstay Notes: The Melges 32 likes to the Tuning Matrix below for detailed ram mainsheet to achieve twist in the mainsail have backstay put on early to flatten the tension instructions. than what the chart says. mainsail and achieve headstay tension. As soon as you are hiking, the backstay The simplicity of the ram allows you Jib Lead Notes: This is a good should be coming on. to do most of the tuning with the ram. starting point, in very light air you MELGES 32 TUNING MatriX Wind Speed 0-6 6-10 10-14 15-20 20+ 2000-2500 in waves, Base in flat water to 1500 Base in flat water up to Ram Base, 6 on Loos generally more tension 2500-3000 on Jack in waves 2000 on Jack in waves in waves Headstay Base Base Base +5 turns from base +5 to 10 turns from base D1’s Base to 1/2” sag Base Base sight straight Base sight straight Base straight D2’s Base to 1/2” sag Base Base sight straight Base sight straight Sight straight Vang Slack Slack Taught Taught Try Tight Cunningham Loose Loose 50% on Tight Tight 5º+ twist, top telltale 5º to 15º twist as needed Main sheet 5° twist if possible 15º + twist 15-25º twist flying to boat seed Softer in big stuff, more Harder, but always keep twist, try lead aft and hard Jib sheet Soft, upper TT flowing Same Same top TT flowing sheet and lead for soft sheet Traveler 100% to weather 50-100% weather Middle to up50% Middle to 25% Down Middle to 25% Down Forward, luff break evenly, 1-2 aft depending on 1 aft of light in flat Jib Lead Generally 8 factory holes Same Same waves, sometimes lead water, same in lump showing aft of car forward soft sheet Slight wrinkle in luff or just Jib Halyard Slight wrinkle in luff No wrinkles No wrinkles No wrinkles pull out Main Outhaul off 1/2” 1/2” eased to max Pull to max Pull to max Pull to max 50% to max on when Backstay None to 25% on 25% to 75% on Max on Max on overpowered Visit our web site at www.OneDesign.com for the latest Melges32 news and tuning tips.