Dart 15 Forums

Following on from something that Charles was saying to me at the show, can someone explain in full the "Erling" technique for tensioning the tramp please? I remember it involves a bit of wood and molegrips but having searched the forum I've only found snippets of info, rather than a complete "idiot's guide" to the process.
Can anyone help please?
Cheers.

Hi Jas,

I tension the trampoline using a bit of wood or latterly I'm using a canoe paddle as a lever. Basically it goes something like this:

1) Thread the tensioning line from the right side to the left side and bring it too hand tight,
2) tie it off, I suspect this is where the molegrips might be used instead?
3) Work from right to left and put the bit of wood in the gap between the line and beam
4) Give it a firm yank towards you, repeat for each and then take out the slack, tie it off.

Repeat 3 - 4 until the trampoline is tight against the beam in the ideal world.

Some people can get the plastic tie offs so they are almost bent double.

Martin S.

The procedure for putting tension into the trampoline, is better shown than explained. When you attend your first TT event, you will soon discover there are plenty of experienced sailors around to show how it's done.

Moreover, by attending a TT, you could ask an experienced sailor to cast his eyes over your boat, and give you yet more advice.

I recommend the Stewartby teach-in where each boat is looked at, in turn. We all learn from each others' boats. And most enjoyably of all, you will learn some tricks to sail your boat better.

And once you have learnt how to sail better, you will want to sail better than the next man. You will then be racing! Racing is all about sailing your boat better than the others. I warn you: it's addictive. Especially when you're continually beaten as I am!

Jason

The mole grips come in each time you tighten the line.

Starting from the right pull hard on the rope & apply mole grip to the rope on the right of your hand / piece of wood / mainsheet hook / whatever you use to apply pressure. The mole grips stop the tension from coming off while you faf about pulling the spare line through the next eye & also allow a rest whenever your want.

As Andrew says easiest to be shown.

It usually takes me 3 goes to get the tramp tight first time & then re-tension every few weeks.

Hello,

After trying several ways to tighten my trampoline I have come up with the following that I found very satisfactory:

Hang a round tube like a boom of a Laser or preferably stiffer from the top gudgeons across the sterns. Install a temporary lacing with a 3-4mm low-elasticity slippery rope between the trampoline and the tube and tighten it. It's much easier than tightening the permanent lacing though the sliders. Once the trampoline is taut, install the permanent lacing and remove the temporary one.

This method stops the sliders to slide sideways when tensioning and also limits the bending of the sliders.

Hi Thierry

I can see, as a first installation of the tramp lacing, your solution works. Though I can't quite work out how you keep the whole lacing tight throughout the process, though you obviously do.

As the season progresses and the tramp needs tightening, it seems to me that your solution adds complexity & the need to have spare bits of Laser available .

The bending of the sliders isn't as much as issue as sunlight degradation of them.

I tighten from left to right. Wet the tramp thoroughly first and it's tight when the plastic D Rings are pointing down!

Mark, do you mean you tighten from port to starboard? That's the opposite way to the way I was taught.

IMG_3358 by KTM Marky, on Flickr

I stand corrected and indeed checking a pic' of my boat from Instow 2020 it is laced from Right to Left.. Was probably doing it upside down after a few beers anyhow!

Does it actually matter, so long as the tramp is wet & tight as the fibres are diagonal?

The important point is knowing what 'Tight' feels like and just how much tension is actually required to get it so that the bows lift evenly when tested.

I believe it is important lacing right to left, probably something to do with the diagonal strengthening on the tramp, though I don't why.

It's best to find the correct branch size to lever the string.

...is that PG fine tuning??

I'm doing it all wrong.

Mark Aldridge wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 5:45 pm ...is that PG fine tuning??

I'm doing it all wrong.

Surely as a tiller extension that's out of class regs?

Charles wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 8:16 pm I can see, as a first installation of the tramp lacing, your solution works. Though I can't quite work out how you keep the whole lacing tight throughout the process, though you obviously do.

I am using 5mm Dyneema for the lacing as I was here advised to do. I think that helps a lot to keep the tension on.