Could any Gator users out the please pass on some tips on how to rig this beast any better?

Mast is a Gorilla 430 RDM, Boom Enigma Wave, Downhaul is down to the specs and bugger all to no outhaul. 2012 or 13.

I normally start off like this and will more outhaul depending on conditions.

There are a few wrinkles between the different materials that I cannot shake out during rigging but seem to disappear when on the water.



Cheers PK

Have you tensioned the battens?

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flatout said..
Have you tensioned the battens?

Yep, I have let them off and then tightened until the little wrinkles disappear. I am more worried about getting the best out of the sail with a few little tweaks.

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xoff said..
Hey PKenny. I think you've got to much downhaul or its set for overpowered conditions.
You can see your loose leech. My gator 14 on gorilla is a bit shorter than spec as well. Just use luff length as guide and fine tune.
Your sail should look like fig4b on this link
http://www.severnesails.com/sites/default/files/rigging-guides/Severne%20No%20Cam%20Rigging%20Guide.pdf

Thanks, that was the next trial.

I would rig mine with less downhaul than that unless it was quite windy. The Gators seem to have quite a range of settings that work and in lighter conditions I rig mine with quite a bit of rotation, where as my Blades tend to get rigged quite flat....but that is mostly just for wavesailing.

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PKenny said..

The leech looks okay, but it's hard to tell in the photo. For the freeride size range (5.5 and up), I like a bit more downhaul to use on my large board. I see some guys using the sails with a tight leech for maximum response, so it's all a preference thing and how you want the rig to feel in your hands.

You bottom battern needs tensioning. The vertical wrinkles in the 4th panel from the bottom is normal in my experience. Gator's aren't a static rig, so the real tuning test is looking at them when powered.

Make sure you play with all settings to see what works for you. I like to adjust them so the sail is just touching the boom when powered up for a given wind strength. Good luck

Agree with everyone else. Looks to be rigged for over powered conditions. I have exactly the same sail and I only put that much downhaul on when I start getting overpowered and I cant be bothered changing down.

Thanks all, it does feel good when powered up. I am trying to make it better in lighter winds. So less downhaul and see how it goes.

Mine didn't come with a beer holder. A bit more time and I might find it.

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PKenny said..
Mine didn't come with a beer holder. A bit more time and I might find it.

Is this the battern tensioner/beer bottle opener ?

I've got a few spare. PM me you're postal address and I'll send you one

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jn1 said..

PKenny said..
Mine didn't come with a beer holder. A bit more time and I might find it.

Is this the battern tensioner/beer bottle opener ?

I've got a few spare. PM me you're postal address and I'll send you one

Got the batten tool, just need some practice to find the beer holder like Al Planets top photo

iv got 6.5 gator if i rig it like that i need 5 knts more wind then i think i find if you back of the down haul 10 to 20 mm you will get a good power out of it and adjust out haul for comfit-it handles great and still good for speed and up wind if you get stuck in higher wind then set like that other wise leave it as it is and go back have a beer and wait for wind to pick up

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PKenny said..
Got the batten tool, just need some practice to find the beer holder like Al Planets top photo

Ah.. ok, gotcha. When I first saw Al's pic, I thought he was holding onto the uphaul rope that some sailors do to point more upwind. A 2nd look, I spotted the beer. Well done Al

J

I use the 6.0 gator on the 430 gorilla.

Try this.

Add Down haul until the leech end of the batten above the boom aligns with the centre of the mast.

In your image it looks like there is too much down haul and the leech end of the batten is at the back end of the boom.

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jn1 said..

PKenny said..
Got the batten tool, just need some practice to find the beer holder like Al Planets top photo

Ah.. ok, gotcha. When I first saw Al's pic, I thought he was holding onto the uphaul rope that some sailors do to point more upwind. A 2nd look, I spotted the beer. Well done Al

J

Lets be clear that that is not a beer, it was in fact a Becks (which I am told is German for ginger Beer) and it was Australia Day...

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Al Planet said..
Lets be clear that that is not a beer, it was in fact a Becks (which I am told is German for ginger Beer) and it was Australia Day...

I was wondering about if you were holding a bottle of Boags or Cascade... but I was wrong in both cases