Mast rake, Prebend and Backstay Adjuster

[ES]

A few questions about a 1986 40 ft Legend:(1) How much mast rake is standard?(2) How much prebend in mast.(3) Does a backstay adjuster really do anything on a B&R Rig? It seems to me that tightening up the backstay will loosen the side shrouds quite a bit.

 

[Joe Bolm]

B&R rig questions

The rake question is sailor prefrence. mast prebend should be 1 inch for each 10 foot of mast length. ie; my '83 hunter 34 has 4 1/2 inches of prebend (looks like a lot) Backstay adjusters can be dangerous and bring your rig down if you pull too hard on them. I use a hydraulic cylinder type adjuster on the base of my headstay (I bought the boat like that) I have been very pleased with the boat's performance. Joe S/V "Exorcist"

 

[Edmund Shanahan]

H40 settings

I believe the book calls for 1% of the distance from the gooseneck to the top. There are some good B&R articles at this website and on Hunters. That's a pretty stretched main, and most cruisers will tend to go less. As far as the backstay adjuster, one of the points of the B&R with swept back spreaders is the naturally induced forward thrust, creating the mast rake, eliminating the need to bend on more using a aftstay tensioning system. Properly rigged, the main should hold it's shape without further backstay tension. Look at the rig, notice how all the rig tension of the mast is aft. The only thing keeping that rig up is the forestay. You want to add more to it?