Mast rake

[vegatern]

I have re-stepped the mast but have not yet begun to adjust the shrouds or stays. The new forestay is attached at the masthead and I'm ready to cut it to length and make up the Norseman fitting for the stem (The jib halyard is supporting the mast now). I know the mast should rake back to the stern and probably should be done now before I cut the forestay, but I don't know how much rake to allow. If the main halyard is stretched plumb to the deck how far back from the mast should it be, at the deck? I am concerned that if I set the mast 90 deg. To the deck with no rake now, there won't be enough travel in the forestay rigging screw to create the rake, or am I wrong?
Craig V1519 Tern

 

[stevebirch2002]

When setting up Ive been told to have the mast racked back by about 4" with plumb weight on the main halyard. Any further rake is then applied by the backstay tensioner.

Cheers

Stevie B

 

[wxt8981]

Hi Craig;
the mast's rake is a trial way to be correct for your sails. There should always be a rake, that when you let go the tiller, the boat wants to round up. That's called a weather helm. Never rake the mast that, when you let go the tiller, the boat falls off to lee (lee helm).
Don't set too much weather helm, or the rudder becomes a brake! Set the helm just to make the boat trying to round up. Any precise setting is done with the back-stay (and a few other changes- but I guess you're not in racing right now)
Have fun... Wilhelm, V-257

 

[groundhogyh]

I am about to order new sails.I have not done any serious rig tunning yet.Will the rig tunning affect the ordering of my sails?

 

[vegatern]

Excellent! That helps lots. Thanks craig

 

[wxt8981]

don't worry- buy new sails. After you sailed a few times (with differend wind conditions), you will know whether or not you need to adjust the rake of the mast. That's why you have turn-buckles.
Wilhelm, V-257

 

[groundhogyh]

Thanks Wilhelm.