Dinghy development: Contender dinghy shroud plates

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Contender dinghy shroud plates

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13096
Printed Date: 10 May 25 at 10:45am
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Topic: Contender dinghy shroud plates

Posted By: Zen Dog
Subject: Contender dinghy shroud plates
Date Posted: 17 Jun 18 at 9:51pm

Hi. I am currently restoring an older Rondar Contender dinghy. When I bought the boat it came stripped with a box of fittings and now that it is time to raise the mast for the first time I see that there are 2 shroud plates on each side, one for the main shrouds and one for the lowers. The 2 shroud plates fit one in front of the other. I’m wondering which goes in front of the other or does it not really matter so long as I do the same on each side?

I look forward to receiving your advice.

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The Glory of the Ride

Replies:

Posted By: Oinks
Date Posted: 17 Jun 18 at 11:37pm

Probably doesn't matter much if they are close together but shroud adjusters if you have them might get in the way. Somebody with a Contender might be best to advise, but if you attach the lowers behind the shrouds, they'll cross over (as they rise to their respective points on the mast) which doesn't sound right. So, in the absence of other advice, attach the shrouds behind the lowers but make sure the shrouds have a decent amount of rig tension so that the mast is well supported. With the lowers, pull on enough to stop the mast bending forward excessively at the gooseneck too much and go from there. A rough guide but you probably need to get better advice from another Contender sailor

Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 18 Jun 18 at 6:48am

Lowers in front

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 18 Jun 18 at 12:07pm

Lowers in front would be conventional, but always check class rules. In this case:

14. SHROUDS AND FORESTAY PLATES
14.1 The main shrouds shall be connected to shroud plates or U-bolts made of metal, which shall be not less than 250 mm abaft the after side of the mast. Shroud plates shall be attached to the outside of the hull; U-bolts shall be attached on the gunwale.

So if the front set are less than 250mm abaft the mast you cam be certain they are for lowers.

Posted By: E.J.
Date Posted: 18 Jun 18 at 9:12pm

Lowers at the front, you need at least loos gauge 20 on the shrouds and 10 on the lowers ( can’t recall the kg/lbs for that on 3mm wire)start with rake at 6550mm and work back as far as you dare. Set the mast between straight and 2cm prebend. This is generally a good start point but obviously tweaks rule as you start sailing.

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Posted By: Zen Dog
Date Posted: 19 Jun 18 at 6:31am

Thank you one and all!

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The Glory of the Ride

Posted By: Contender443
Date Posted: 24 Jun 18 at 1:25pm

Sorry to spoil your fun but my Contender is shrouds at the front and lowers at the back and that is quite common on the photos I looked at. I doubt it matters much.

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Bonnie Lass Contender 1764

Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 24 Jun 18 at 2:40pm

On 707 they were side by side on a single fitting, and on 492 the overlapped with the inners towards the stern! They're so close together I doubt it makes any difference.

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Peter
Ex Cont 707
Ex Laser 189635
DY 59

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 24 Jun 18 at 2:59pm

If Ubolts they can be attached to the same fitting, my Supernova did this. If separate fittings then use the ones that match the length of the lowers, the wrong ones will leave them too long or too short. If they use an adjustment system or shroud adjusters that have have been dismantled then this may not work.

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 24 Jun 18 at 8:45pm

Re. lowers tension setting, slack just takes up with forestay lever at 90degrees.

Posted By: Zen Dog
Date Posted: 01 Jul 18 at 7:16pm

So some differences of opinion....and it probably makes little difference given how close the two are but I have decided to go go with the lower shrouds aft for the following reason.

Yesterday I bumped into ex-Contender sailor Stuart Murdoch who advised lower shrouds aft because, since they don’t interfere with how far out the boom goes, this means that the boom can get that little bit further out on a run. That seems to make sense so I’m going for this.

Thanks for all your advice.

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The Glory of the Ride