Weather Helm on H34

[Ray Chapman]

I have a friend who just purchased a 1986 H34. He has an excessive amount of weather helm and wonders if it could be caused by the mast bend. He stated that he has about 4-1/2 inches of bend. I have 5 inches of bend in my H310 and have no problems with weather helm.thanksRay Chapman

 

[Scott Davis]

Mast Bend/ Rake

He may have 5" mast bend, but how much mast rake??? (mast tilt=fore/aft) He can measure by hanging a small weight from his main halyard and allowing it to lower down to the cabin top. With the weight just off the deck. measure now far back from the mast the weight is. Not sure on his boat, but on my boat I get weather helm if my mast rake is more then 14"-16" aft. Scott

 

[David Foster]

Sail Condition

90% of the weather helm on my h27 came from a baggy main. A new main got rid of the weather helm problem, reduced heel, and increased boat speed. We can now tune the rig for the desired small amount of weather helm.