Beginners question involving dropping the mast to

   First time posting so please be patient, I have just bought myself wooden Enterprise dinghy with a little tidying up mostly paint work and it should be good to go,  When I got the dinghy home first thing I did was put the mast up but was surprised to find the jib attached to the front mast wire, should this be like this or should it be able to be raised and lowered without.Is there anywhere I can get / buy a rigging diagram?

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Si Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 18 Jun 19 Location: Huddersfield Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Si Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Beginners question involving dropping the mast to Posted: 19 Jun 19 at 8:45pm
	First time posting so please be patient, I have just bought myself wooden Enterprise dinghy with a little tidying up mostly paint work and it should be good to go, When I got the dinghy home first thing I did was put the mast up but was surprised to find the jib attached to the front mast wire, should this be like this or should it be able to be raised and lowered without. Is there anywhere I can get / buy a rigging diagram?

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jun 19 at 9:12pm
	There should be a wire inside the front of the jib, but a separate one from mast to front of boat, like the ones coming to the sides. Edited by Rupert - 19 Jun 19 at 9:13pm
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Si Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 18 Jun 19 Location: Huddersfield Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Si Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 19 at 5:52am
	I am going to remove the jib this Saturday which means dropping the mast,, if the cable isn’t there is it easy to replace?

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3395	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 19 at 10:03am
	Yes, just go to a chandler and they'll make one up for you (or ask on here and FB Dinghy bits page if anybody has a spare they would sell you). The mast needs three wires to hold it up, on the Ent you can't rely on the jib luff wire to be one of the three (on boats where the mast goes through the deck and down to the keel it will stand up on it's own so you can use the jib). The jib can then be raised and lowered without the mast falling down. Edited by Sam.Spoons - 21 Jun 19 at 9:39am
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ColPrice2002 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 25 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 221	Post Options Post Reply Quote ColPrice2002 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 19 at 8:42pm
	Just to add to Sam's great post... The Enterprise mast has 3 stays - forestay + 2 shrouds. These keep the mast upright. The jib will (or should) have a wire inside the luff. When the jib is hoisted, the wire in the jib should take the strain, so the forestay is slightly slack. A lot of older dinghies have clips (hanks) on the jib luff so that the forestay can help keep the jib from sagging away. Modern rigs tend to use more tension on the job, so the use of hanks is obselescent. We're assuming you have a metal mast - check the end fittings before buying! Colin

Si Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 18 Jun 19 Location: Huddersfield Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Si Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jun 19 at 6:30pm
	Hi Colin Yes it is a metal mast, intend to take the mast down in a couple of weeks and have proper look at what I have got or what is missing, is there anywhere I can get a diagram of Enterprise rigging or even a Dummies guide to the Enterprise dinghy. Simon

ColPrice2002 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 25 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 221	Post Options Post Reply Quote ColPrice2002 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jun 19 at 7:34pm
	Try the information here:- http://www.sailenterprise.co.uk/. Basically, the 3 stays hold up the mast. The spreaders help control the mast bend. All 3 should be adjustable... Start with the mast upright (check that the mast is upright across the boat). Go sailing, and close hauled with the boat upright and trimmed fore/aft; the boat will want to turn upwind or downwind. Rake the mast backward to increase the tendency to turn into the wind. You're looking for just a slight tendency to turn into the wind. That's always a good starting point. Otherwise, sails are set normally - jib luff tighter than forestay, mainsail to the black band on mast, outhaul to give a decent flow. Use the kicker to keep the boom from lifting, and when windy, more tension increases mast bend.. Enjoy Colin

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3395	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jun 19 at 10:04pm
	Just to add, when you get down to the detail Ents have been rigged in many different ways but the basic principles remain the same. However an old boat will cope with much less rig tension than a newer one so be careful if you consider replicating the current National Champion's setup . As Col says make sure it's vertical across the boat but I'd say go with a bit of aft rake to start with, the Speed sails guide says "Mast Rake :- Mast rake is measured from the top of the mast to the top of the transom. It will vary slightly between boats but we sail with a rake in the range of 21’11/2 – 21’2. To do this hoist the jib with 400lbs tension and then shackle a long measuring tape to main halyard. Measure 18’ 6 to the top of the black band at the gooseneck. Cleat the main halyard and measure to the transom." But if it's an older boat I'd probably go for a lot less rig tension than that. FWIW the Enterprise is a lovely boat and very rewarding to sail (I've had a couple and may well end up with another eventually).
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Si Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 18 Jun 19 Location: Huddersfield Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Si Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jun 19 at 6:24am
	Thanks Gents, all much appreciated, sure I will be back in the near future with more questions. Si