Mast perpendicular to deck or vertical?

[Ric]

My boat has a lean of 2 degrees to starboard and it is not possible to redistribute stuff to compensate for this.

Should I adjust the mast so it is perpendicular to the deck, or vertical? Or will it not make any difference?

 

[MoodySabre]

There was athread on this recently. Lots of boats, including mine, don't sit straight on the pontoon mooring. Nothing to worry about.

When you are sailing the boat is all over the place so it makes no sense to adjust the mast for its mooring position. The mast should be perpendicular to the deck.

 

[pvb]

My boat has a lean of 2 degrees to starboard and it is not possible to redistribute stuff to compensate for this.

Should I adjust the mast so it is perpendicular to the deck, or vertical? Or will it not make any difference?

I don't think 2 degrees makes any difference at all; I'd ignore it and just enjoy the boat.

 

[rob2]

Don't even consider canting the mast to suit a weight imbalance! Its position when sailing is relative to the hull shape and righting moment/lateral resistance of the keel, so you will probably end up sailing poorly on both tacks.

Rob.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

.... adjust the mast so it is perpendicular to the deck ....

My boat leans to port, 2 x heads, one galley, the bigger of the two fuel tanks and the battery bank; its quite noticeable but the mast is set up perpendicular to the deck. On port tack, close hauled she sails slightly faster than on starboard tack close hauled.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

All depends on the type of the yacht, however, I am under the understanding that the mast should be adjusted starting from the vertical position and not necessarily perpendicular to the deck.

 

[Salty John]

The rig must be symmetrical relative to the boat - equal tension in port and starboard shrouds.
Most boats lean one way or the other, usually towards the galley, but not always. The mast should be perpendicular to the hull, not the horizon.

 

[VicS]

The rig must be symmetrical relative to the boat - equal tension in port and starboard shrouds.
Most boats lean one way or the other, usually towards the galley, but not always. The mast should be perpendicular to the hull, not the horizon.

The tension will be the same whether you set it up perpendicular relative the deck or the horizon, give or take a little due to the actual weight of the mast.

2° seems rather a lot.. is equal to about 1 ft over a 30 ft mast and several inches across the beam.

I think Id split the difference, if the rigging screw adjustment allows, and see how it goes.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Perpendicular to the deck - nothing else makes sense, as any heeling of a boat will depend on weight distributions that change. It's the shape of the hull and the water flowing round it that matters, not where the horizon is!

Professional riggers set up a mast by measuring the distance from masthead to chainplates and ensuring it's the same both sides. You do it by simply leading the main-halliard to one side, then moving it to the other and checking it comes to the same place.