So the halyard still hangs way back from the base of the mast (like a foot or more) even with the forestay turnbuckle all the way in? Crazy Dave is the expert on these boats, and what masts came with them. I am not sure I have heard of a "Francespar" mast on a 23, though the various companies (Kenyon, Z-spar) have changed hands over time. I wonder if that is possibly a retrofitted mast? The things that could cause it to rake way too far back are (at least what I can think of):
Mast too short, e.g., cut down or replaced.
Forestay too short (EDIT: too long
)
Mast base (tabernacle) mounted too far forward (does it look like any work has been done there, e.g., a new one put in?).
Fitting where forestay attaches to mast mounted too low.
If you exhaust all other possibilities, particularly if you find it isn't an original mast, I guess I would shorten the forestay, either by buying a new one of the correct length with swaged fittings, or maybe buy a swageless eye or threaded stud, cut the old terminal off, and fit the new one. You'd have to figure out with a little trigonometry how long the stay should be.
Mast too short, e.g., cut down or replaced.
Forestay too short (EDIT: too long
)Mast base (tabernacle) mounted too far forward (does it look like any work has been done there, e.g., a new one put in?).
Fitting where forestay attaches to mast mounted too low.
If you exhaust all other possibilities, particularly if you find it isn't an original mast, I guess I would shorten the forestay, either by buying a new one of the correct length with swaged fittings, or maybe buy a swageless eye or threaded stud, cut the old terminal off, and fit the new one. You'd have to figure out with a little trigonometry how long the stay should be.
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