Need help shortening forestay

[Mac Bentley]

The mast on my h23 is way too far aft. I've done the halyard-hanging trick and, after loosening the backstays and shrouds as much as I dare, it's still not even close to the eight inches or so I've seen recommended in these forums.The forestay is all that's left and it's got a CDI furler on it, a Flexible 4/6 with an internal halyard as best I can tell from the little bit of a manual that has survived previous owners.I downloaded a 4/6 manual from CDI's web site and it seems all you have to do is take out the luff support pin, wherever and whatever that is, and slide up the spool to expose the turnbuckle.I'm not the kind of guy who likes tearing things apart to see how they work. Does this sound right? Any advice will be appreciated.MacS.V. Boodle

 

[Greg2230]

I've done this but with a different furler...

Mac, if your CDI is anything like my Hood furling drum, at the base of the drum there should be a shackle attaching the drum to a fitting near where the forestay attaches to the deck. This shackle prevents the lower half of the drum from rotating while furling or unfurling the sail. Undo this shackle and yank on your jib halyard. This should raise the furled sail, foil and furling drum a few inches and reveal your forestay turnbuckle but only if your swivel at the top of your furled sail has enough room to travul up the forestay before topping out. Good luck!