Mast Rake Adj?

[rick retiree]

Having purchased used 2001 X from 3rd party that knew nothing about sailboats and this being my first, needless to say its been a learning experience. Heres my prob. How can I reduce rake? She is set up with a 5-6 degree mast rake (in water with no one in boat). But with a CDI roller furling system with 150% genny with UV protection edging there is no way to draw in the forestay to lower rake since system has no adjustments to take up slack to pull mast forward. There is a 4 to 5 inch slack on the fore sail but I fugured that was because of the weight of the genny. Should it be really tight? Also going to buy tension gauge. Is rigging 5/32? As always thanks for your help.

[Catigale]

Lurking under your CDI furler is a turnbuckle which can adjust the forestay length..you need to pull the pins on the grey extrusion and push it up the furler extrusion to access this turnbuckle

Make sure you pin it with a new cotter pin, otherwise it unravels and the mast falls on you

[berjim]

I would be curious to hear what you find when you go to adjust your stays. My 2001X also had way too much rake and didn't handle right. I had to shorten the forestay by about 3 inches and lengthen the back stay by about that much to get the rake to one or two degrees. The other problem was that a couple of the shroud adjustments were at their full extension which gave me no leeway in trying to lengthen them a little. Since I bought the boat used I don't know if someone else had already made adjustments to the length of the shrouds or what. I understand that these boats come from the factory with the masts back 94 to 96 degrees but it seems like there would have been more adjustment available to reduce that.

Jim

[johnnyonspot]

Make sure you pin it with a new cotter pin, otherwise it unravels and the mast falls on you

Sounds like you may be speaking from experience?

[Catigale]

No, but this is a good place to re-iterate this is an item that needs to be diligently checked each month, and also after a hard sail with a lot of furling and unfurling....

[johnnyonspot]

My jib is hank-on so I need not worry about it. Makes things very simple and very easy, with little chance of breakdown.

[Frank C]

... I understand that these boats come from the factory with the masts back 94 to 96 degrees but it seems like there would have been more adjustment available to reduce that.

Actually, you probably mean, "... boats are delivered with the masts back to 86 degrees."

Just from memory ... the turnbuckle provides a max (approx) adjustment of 1 degree. If it's already at mid-adjustment, you may see only one-half degree, plus or minus. I think it actually REQUIRES shortening the forestay (by approx 4 inches) to reduce the rake from 86 to 88 degrees, reducing it from 4*-aft ... to 2 *-aft.

Some owners have elected to raise the hounds by 4 inches, instead. REgardless the approach, a change of that magnitude generally make the backstay too short, and also pulls the shroud adjusters right out to their max length limits.

The conclusion ... a rake adjustment (reduction) by 2 degrees is beyond the max adjustment range built into the rigging. A 'real' rake reduction goes beyond "adjusting" and into "modifying." The common tactics are inserting a backstay adjuster to gain necessary fore/aft length and inserting extender tabs or turnbuckles for the shrouds. It's a perfect time to consider StaMasters.

[Ron]

The Mac owner's manual says the rake angle should be 94 degrees. (or I guess, measured from the other side it would be 86 degrees).

But, why would you want to change the rake angle? What performance problem are you having with the boat? It sounds like she is setup the way Macgregor intended.

[Sloop John B]

What's the matter with you dinks? The mast bend/rake is adjusted by the shrouds! The stays merely allow for it. And keep it up.

Yeah, if you want to make it look like a backward 'S' yank it forward with your forestay (I don't think that makes sense).

Go to Whitaker, Featured Articles at your left.

[Moe]

Actually, Sloop, the rake is adjusted by the forestay length. I do that first with the shrouds loosened and the backstay disconnected. The upper shrouds, along with the backstay on an X, provide the bend, and the lower shrouds keep it there, rather than allow pumping, where the bend increases and decreases.

With the turnbuckle under our furler drum fully shortened (for about 3-4º rake), the shrouds were at the ends of their adjusters, where the next tighter or looser hole pair alignment was a bigger jump in length (and tension). And the backstay was 1-1/2 to 2" too short to connect and pin. That, and reduced tension when pinning the forestay, was why we went to an adjustable backstay.