Hunter 23 Mast Position

[M and M]

Hi All,
I have a Z Spar mast on my 1988 H 23. It has a wing keel. The mast has a rake built into the top 4 feet or so. My question is should the mast be dead plumb, or should it be rigged to be leaning slightly to the stern. If so, how much should it be leaning? I've been told that C-22's mast needs to be plumb or they will have severe weather helm.

Thanks for all your advice! Mark

 

[Mike48]

Mark,
Look in my thread (mike48) from April 2011. It should answer your question.

Mike

 

[Brian M H23]

You'll want the mast vertical - more rake is going to make your boom lower in the cockpit and mess with the sheeting angles of your headsail.

The simplest way to set this boat up is to "set the length" of your side stays, then apply tension with the forestay.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Most riggers I know generally tension the forestay and backstay first. The shrouds are generally holding the mast loose at this point to keep it from falling sideways. I will first then take the upper shrouds and barely tighten and then check the top of the mast in the middle by either using the main halyard by hand or you can attach a measuring tape and check for sideways so the top of the mast is in the middle. At this point, I will tension the lower shrouds looking up the mast adjusting the lower shrouds to make the mast straight and then will tension all shrouds from there. Hope this helps.