[Public-List] Mast Rake

[Jeffrey]

Thanks Michael,

What you describe at the mast step makes sense. It would not be good
to have all the weight/force of the mast on one small section I'm
sure.

I should say that after sailing small boats with mast rake, and the
associated rudder helm, it was a pleasure to sail my A30 for the first
time in stronger winds having such a light touch on the tiller.

-Jeff

On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 9:33 PM,  <crufone at comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi Jeff,
>
> I too am used to smaller boats with adjustable mast rake.  The general
> consensus among the Alberg 30 family is that the designer expected the rig
> to be set up plumb. If you examine the mast step, a raised hub over which
> the soda straw, (the mast) rests there is not much allowance for mast rake
> adjustment.
>
> Several years ago I helped Dan Walker set up his boat and tune the rig after
> an extensive on-the-hard refurbishing. I used an average of the rig tensions
> which I have gathered from participants on the Public List and our Web site.
> For the mast rake I attempted to achieve about a foot of rake when measured
> at the coach roof. If I remember correctly I was not able to achieve this
> because most of the mast pressure was on the aft 1/3 of the circumference of
> the mast extrusion on the mast step. I felt that this was not good. So I
> backed off the rake until there was about half the rake. This meant that the
> very forward bottom edge of the mast extrusion was approximately 1/16 inch
> above the mast step and approximately two inches aft of the forward
> edge..... extending to the aft edge.... the bottom edge of the mast was
> tight against the step.  To measure the relative rake I used a line hoisted
> fully on the main sail halyard weighted like a plumb bob and measured just
> above the coach roof to the aft face of the mast.
>
> Dan and I went sailing on her shake-down in about 12 to 15 knots of wind and
> five foot seas.  I can't compare her pointing ability in reference to other
> boats because we were the only ones out there. Her helm was OK.....neutral
> to just a tad of weather helm. Could not have been much weather helm because
> the wooden part of the tiller split at the rudder head fitting, due to age
> not helm, and we were able to sail while Dan went below and got some
> c-clamps to hold all together.  We sailed the remainder of the shake-down
> using the c-clamps.
>
> I suggested to Dan that rig set up is going to be a trial and error, adjust
> and test type of exercise until you achieve the feel, helm and pointing
> ability which you desire.  It is my contention that while most or
> perhaps all boats came from the same mould that all boats will be slightly
> different.
>
> Perhaps Dan can chime in here to tell us if he has tweaked the
> original rig set up for the shake- down that day or has just left it the
> same and if she developed helm in different wind conditions. Another major
> adjustment available is that the mast step plate can be shifted fore and
> aft.  From what I have heard most owners on-list shift this plate to max
> forward position. Again, the guys at Whitby probably drilled the holes for
> these plates in slightly different places on different boats. I don't know
> if a fixture was used to locate the plate prior to drilling the mounting
> holes, or if the guys just thought well this looks good and drilled the
> holes. I'll bet that if you were to measure the distance on several boats
> from the stem head fitting to the fore edge of the mast plate you might find
> a difference of an inch or so. That coupled with the two inches? or so of
> designed adjustment will provide your boat with a range of handling
> characteristics.  Again it would be worth the effort to set up your rig via
> an adjust and test sail exercise to determine the best location of the mast
> step for your particular boat.  In theory there is only one optimum position
> and rake for the feel, helm and pointing ability that you desire. I
> endeavour to set up a boat somewhere between good pointing ability and a
> balanced helm. I am certain that others will contribute to this thread.
>
> Michael #133
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: "Jeffrey" <fongemie at gmail.com>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 2:57:22 PM
> Subject: [Public-List] Mast Rake
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I was wondering about Mast rake on our boats. I've had a couple of
> smaller boats and adding a bit of mast rake really helped point closer
> to the wind. I have a hobie cat that has lots of mast rake, and a ton
> of weather-helm...points good though.
>
> In searching the archives I came a cross a couple of posts where it
> was decided that the mast is best left in column.  I'm wondering why?
> Anyone add some rake and like it??  I love the idea of pointing
> higher, however I don't want to deal with much weather helm. We are
> just cruisers.
>
> -Jeff
>
> --
> Jeffrey Fongemie
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-- 
Jeffrey Fongemie

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