North Sails One Design
Lippincott Lightning Tuning Guide
Lippincott Lightning
Tuning Guide
TUNING THE OLDER LIPPINCOTT LIGHTNING
By Greg Fisher
Updated March 2004
The following suggested tuning numbers are based on the shroud chainplate position on the standard Lippincott Lightnings as they were produced in the 1960's and '70's. The upper chainpiates on these boats were approximately 7'5" to 7'5 1/2" aft of the bow and the lower chainpiates were 12" further aft. On my present Lippincott, #10860, I moved the chainpiates forward to the "standard" position used on newer boats of approximately 71 3/4" aft of the bow. Moving the chainplates forward allowed me to use our present tuning guide for either the Nickels or the Allen boats. However, the boat will certainly perform quite well with the chainplates in the standard older Lippincott position and the numbers that follow will help you get there. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me.
First, the butt of the mast needs to be moved aft at least 3/4" from maximum forward position (should be close to 20 3/4" forward of the centerboard pin).
Second, the upper shrouds should be tensioned to the class maximum of 250 lb. with the lowers set up at close to 70 lb.
Third, the mast should be blocked forward so the front of the mast is nearly 80" from the bow (nearly all the way forward with a rubber protector block in front of the mast). The lower shrouds should then be checked and re-tensioned to nearly 250 lb.
Do not attach the jibstay.
At this point you should have approximately 1 3/4" of positive pre-bend in the mast. Attach a 50' tape measure on the main halyard and hoist it to the top of the mast. Measure to the back deck where it meets the transom. This measurement should be very close to 26'3" to 26'4". Do not pull tight on the tape or backstay to check this rake measurement. You can loosely attach the spinnaker halyard to the bow fitting to monitor backstay tension. If you do not have this rake you will have to reposition the mast butt location.
Remove the spinnaker halyard. Tension the backstay. The rake of 26' 3" to 26' 4" should change about 3 1/2" (i.e. to between 25' 11 1/2 " and 26' 1/2").
Attach the jibstay and adjust the turnbuckle until the jibstay is just taut.
The other area that should be adjusted is the lateral position of the jib leads. The older Lippincotts had the leads approximately 17 1/2" or 18" off of centerline. It has been found that it helps to move the leads inboard to the new class legal minimum position.
The rest of the numbers for the jib lead position, amount of backstay tension, jib cloth, cunningham, etc. are covered in North's current updated tuning suggestions.
CONTACT NORTH SAILS
For tuning information and complete details on how to setup your Ligtning sails contact the North Lightning experts at:ONE DESIGN - EAST
/ONE DESIGN - CHESAPEAKE
/ONE DESIGN - RHODE ISLAND
Ched Proctor / Brian Hayes / Greg Fisher / Tim Healy203 877 7627 / 614 418 9410 / 401 683 7997
Fax 203 877 6942 / fax 614 418 9411 / Fax 401 683 9121
fax 414 275 8012 / /
Good Sailing!
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