mast bend

[david smith]

The mast on the 240 has a lot of bend. Is this normal? Are they just soft? Have only had the boat ,second hand, for a short time, and that's how it came.

 

[Mark]

Hullo David

Without any shrouds connected eg with the mast lying on the ground the "pre-bend" should be approx 1% of the length from the goose neck to the top of the mast for most sails.To adjust the pre-bend you use the reverse diagonals. Get the bend where you want it and then reset the shrouds having first set the rake with the forestay.More bend in the mast means a flatter sail and of course the staighter the mast the more shape you have in the sail.We have quite a bit of bend on my mast on a 260 cos you probably know that over here in Albany it is not uncommon to have weeks and weeks and weeks of 25-30 winds. But thats the Southern Ocean.

 

[Mark]

How Does the sail shape look?

Does the sail shape look good? And, give the shrouds and stays (cables holding the mast up)a pull. If the back stay and for stay are extremely tight, get some professional advice. better yet, have a professional look at it anyway. You will learn a lot about your boat, and gain confidence.Good luck!Mark