Posted: December 22 2007 at 10:26 | IP Logged

One of my winter projects is to give my standing rigging a better tune for next year. Here are some questions and observations:

1. I have some pictures someone gave me of the lengths and dimensions of a Helms 25 standing rig. It shows the back stay and lower shrouds to be 1/8" wire and everything else 5/32 wire. My 1976 #552 has all 5/32 wire. What was original for the Helms 25? Did it change over the years?

2. Wire tension. I had all the stays and shrouds about the same tension. 10% of the braking strength or about a number 25 or 27 on the Loos scale. But after looking at a DVD from Brian Toss for rigging, he recommends 10% for the lower shrouds and 15% for the upper shrouds and back stay. He didn't mention the jibstay (Forestay). So, how do all of you Helms 25 owners tension your shrouds and stays?

3. I noticed some sailboat manufactures us the bulkheads has part of the support for the shroud chain plates. The Helms 25 has a stainless steel bracket and tang attached to one of the chain plates and is through bolted to the bulkhead. However, it seems the bulk head is not tabbed into the hull sufficiently to use the bulkhead as a support. Infact, the chain plate may be used to hold up the bulk head. I've seen some pictures of Helms 25's with half bulk heads, but I don’t know if they were original. So, were the bulk heads originally used as additional support for the shroud chain plates?

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a wonderful sailing season this New Year.

Wayne

Posted: December 04 2008 at 09:54 | IP Logged

Wayne - Unfortunately, I don't have much help for you.  It seems that I cannot find, anywhere, an owner’s manual for the Helms 25.  Mine is JAH004280275.  I know that I need to replace some of the standing rigging (the lower shrouds) and I do have diagrams for the lower shrouds and the back stay and it indicates 1/8 wire for them.

I would give up a week on the water for an owner’s manual!!  Of course, I just bought my Helms in August and haven't gotten it in the water yet and since I live in upstate New York it won't be until next spring before it even looks at the water.

As for the attachment to the bulkhead, I recently read of the chain plates being attached to the forward bulkheads, but my boat only has one bulkhead (on the starboard side) but I can see where the port bulkhead used to be.  I believe that was for the upper shrouds.  I also saw a photo of a Helms with no bulkheads (a much earlier hull number).  Seems as if there is a lack of consistency as if the boat was continued to be designed as it went further through production.

On my boat, the centerboard mechanism was moved out of the cabin and is immediately aft of the cabin door.  Also, the traveler is mounted on top of the aft pulpit but I think that was done since the tiller was replaced with a pedestal-mounted wheel.  Other than that it seems fairly stock.

Wayne - is there any chance you could send me the drawings you have for the standing rigging.  As I said, all I have is for the backstay and lower shrouds - both showing 1/8-inch wire.