So I am getting ready to put the mast back up on my 1983 model, and I realized that I forgot to check if the mast had any rake to it before I took it down. Anyone know off the top of their head?
Thanks!
Thanks!
O'day 23-2 mast rake?
- Thread starter Ziradog
- Start date
In my experience, if the boat is not a one design class, or a class that is raced a lot, there will be no codified rake measurement. Especially for boats like O'days that are considered cruisers, and not even cruiser/racers.
The best thing you can do is set it by trial and error, sailing close hauled in 10-12 knots of wind, so that you have 3-6º of weather helm at the tiller. When I rigged mine the first year, I had spun out all the turnbuckles to examine and lube with Lanocote. So I had to tune the rig from scratch. At first I thought the amount of rake I had was great, the tiller was so light and neutral. Then it blew a bit harder, and I realized that lightness translated into lee helm. Not good. I tweaked the forestay looser a few turns and the uppers tighter to tip it back and get some weather helm.
It took me about 3 sails until I was done fooling with it. Then I went and stiffened my rudder headstock with solid wood, which caused the foil to kick aft an inch. Tiller got really heavy, and I was back to the drawing board, moving the mast forward again. I might still have some tweaking to do this season, but I haven't been sailing - too much house packing to do.
The best thing you can do is set it by trial and error, sailing close hauled in 10-12 knots of wind, so that you have 3-6º of weather helm at the tiller. When I rigged mine the first year, I had spun out all the turnbuckles to examine and lube with Lanocote. So I had to tune the rig from scratch. At first I thought the amount of rake I had was great, the tiller was so light and neutral. Then it blew a bit harder, and I realized that lightness translated into lee helm. Not good. I tweaked the forestay looser a few turns and the uppers tighter to tip it back and get some weather helm.
It took me about 3 sails until I was done fooling with it. Then I went and stiffened my rudder headstock with solid wood, which caused the foil to kick aft an inch. Tiller got really heavy, and I was back to the drawing board, moving the mast forward again. I might still have some tweaking to do this season, but I haven't been sailing - too much house packing to do.
I keep mine pretty much straight up and down. Its got plenty of weather helm as it is.
No, I've got relatively new sails and the mast is where I want it. Weather helm is not necessarily a bad thing, I didn't mean to imply that it's gripy, but rather its just to my liking. In fact, in light winds, under full sail it will tend to have a tad lee helm.Indy, you should loosen uppers and backstay, and tighten forestay if you can. That would help with too much weather helm, unless your weather helm is caused by stretched out old sails... I want new sails myself, but house trumps sails
Ok then, Indy... Sounds like you have got it set up right.
In his book, Dennis Connor says that 3-6º of weather helm in the rudder gives added lift to windward. Of course, too much, and it starts to act like a brake. And if the boat is rounding up and you're tugging on the tiller hard, that's probably when it's time to take a reef.
Worst weather helm I've ever felt was in a Hobie 14 (cat rigged) down on the sound near Nags Head, NC. I was a teenager, and my Mom rented it so I could taker her out sailing. Wind came up a bit, not too much as I recall, but I was so exhausted trying to pull on that tiller, I hardly enjoyed THE FAST. Yeah, like how much do rental companies care about rig tuning?
In his book, Dennis Connor says that 3-6º of weather helm in the rudder gives added lift to windward. Of course, too much, and it starts to act like a brake. And if the boat is rounding up and you're tugging on the tiller hard, that's probably when it's time to take a reef.
Worst weather helm I've ever felt was in a Hobie 14 (cat rigged) down on the sound near Nags Head, NC. I was a teenager, and my Mom rented it so I could taker her out sailing. Wind came up a bit, not too much as I recall, but I was so exhausted trying to pull on that tiller, I hardly enjoyed THE FAST. Yeah, like how much do rental companies care about rig tuning?