Hunter 260 Mast Rake vs Newer Hunters

[jimfrankelly]

I have used a level to check the mast rake on my 2002 Hunter 270 (the lead keel version of the Hunter 260) versus newer (2005 and newer) Hunter sailboats such as the 30.5, 31 & 36. All of these newer Hunters have a much greater rake in their masts than my Hunter 270, when measured with a spirit level at 7 feet up the mast.

My 270 is showing 8 inches of mast rake at the boom when measured by a weighted halyard, which is about 2 inches more than recommended. Does anyone have an explanation for this ???

 

[Jackdaw]

I'd caution over-thinking this. You are pretty close, and these numbers are guidelines. The big questions is; How does the boat feel?

Unless you have excessive weather helm, I'd not worry about it.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

On the 270 and 260 both with the same rigs, I suggest no more than 4 inches with the weighted line hanging from the top of the mast down to a point aft of the boom connection at the mast.

 

[caverun]

I'm trying to set the mast rake and tune my 240 after installing a new forestay and furler. I'm having trouble setting the rake because of the mast bend- some of the main halyard offset is due to the aft bend, and not the rake. Do I try to remove the bend before setting the rake? The mast foot is not square in the mast base (tilted aft), but I'm not sure the mast base is horizontal, so probably not a good reference.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Caverun;

Send me your contact information to davecondon@mindspring.com and I will call you on this one. My policy is never share that contact information not even with my wife and I delete it when done.

crazy dave condon

 

[cephius (Dave)]

The pre-bend should remain. The rake should be acheved with the pre-bend in place. Depending on the roller furler, there is some adjustment of the forestay tention.

Here is a great explaination for tuning these rigs: http://www.h260.com/rigging/rigging.html