Technique: RS200 Spreader Length Measurement

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RS200 Spreader Length Measurement

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13508
Printed Date: 26 Jun 25 at 7:48pm
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Topic: RS200 Spreader Length Measurement

Posted By: jitensha
Subject: RS200 Spreader Length Measurement
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 5:53am

I can find many examples & recommendations of spreader length for the RS200 class. All are typically in the 365-405mm range. However, the RS rigging guide seems to say that spreader length is measured from shroud to the closest mast face. While other tuning guides say from the shroud to mast track. Which is it?

Replies:

Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 7:16am

I would go with RS, they have done the development.

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Robert

Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 8:28am

Also - would not get too hung up on it util you are in the top 10 at the Nationals, spreader length so long as its in the ball park will not make a difference to your placing.

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H2 #115 (sold)
H2 145
OK 2082

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 8:34am

Surely depends on your weight, too. As for the measurement place, take each as it comes. RS will have the ball park figure as they measure it, the hotshots/coaches will have theirs to suit. If they don't say, then get in touch, or read someone else's guide.

As said, it will make little difference to be slightly wrong, but it may make the boat feel nicer, and psychologically it can make a surprising difference to your results!

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 8:38am

Actually, it doesn't really matter which way you measure the length, just so long as you're using the same method that the person providing the measurement used.

Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 12:56pm

I don’t measure the spreader length. I find it better to measure the distance between the shrouds points on the spreader and the distance between the shroud points and the back of the mast , using a batten against the shrouds to get a straight edge. The advantage of this is that the first gives you a parameter to control sideways mast bend and the second gives you one to control fore and aft bend. This keeps it simple -spreader length in itself doesn't mean that much.

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 1:15pm

I was asked to post this:

Spreaders are measured under tension, to accommodate for any slop in the fittings. Measure from the shroud to the closest inside edge of the mast track. This accounts for slight variations in alignment of the bracket. I.e. if you just measure to the mast both sides may measure the same. But if you measure to the track and you see one side is closer, despite being the in same hole, then the fitting isn't on square to the track. You want the shrouds equidistant from the track.

My settings are 130mm deflection and 400mm length. But I'm going to reduce both these by 5 mm for next season. But they weren't slow last year http://www.hisc.co.uk/media/2670/rs200-om.htm

However, it's also worth measuring from wire to wire and keeping record of this. This is the true 'support width'. Otherwise as you increase deflection, even though you're spreader length may remain set the same, the width of the support triangle reduces. So it lets you measure and set side to side support independently of deflection.

Rig tension 27. Rake 21'9.5 on old deck, rake 21'10 on new deck (deck is slightly lower on the new mould where you measure to) . Mast one hole forward on the mast foot track.

Posted By: jaydub
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 11:00pm

We've rigged our boat with an average from the rather aged tuning measurements on the RS200 site and that works OK for us.

James Peters in his RS Training vid and the tuning guide he published on the HISC web site never mentioned spreader length. I emailed him a few years back and he admitted he didn't have a clue what spreader setting he was sailing with. He just focussed on rake and rig tension.

I guess it goes to show if you are good enough, you are more than fast enough.

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 11:16pm

It's usually the case, get the rig close to the numbers and then just point it it the right direction.

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