In my experience, a turnbuckle is not typically what you would find on a P-15
for adjusting rig tension. Most of the P-15s that I've seen have dinghy style
shroud adjustors - a metal piece with multiple holes in it to which the
stays/shrouds are secured with pins and cotter rings.
I would second Jerry's recommedation that the rig be pre-tensioned slightly.
My forestay has to be pulled in just over an inch in order to slip the pin
in. Rather than struggle with it, I attach the jib halyard to the pulpit,
tension the halyard, and then the pin slides in easily.
Set up like this, the P-15 rig is nicely self regulating. When going up wind
the forestay is adequately tight for decent performance, when off the wind in
a breeze the backstayless rig allows the jib to "pooch out" into a fuller
shape, more appropriate for the lower apparent wind.
Dave Kautz
P-15 # 1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA
In a message dated 10/8/99 5:54:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
preston@top.monad.net writes:
>
> I have a lot of jury rigged fittings on my boat. I am replacing the
> turnbuckle on the forstay. How tight should the forestay be ? Mine seems
> loose with the turnbuckle turned all the way in. I believe you would
> call my rig a simulated gaff rig.
>
> Richard Preston
>
>