Mast Rake and Forestay adjustment

[Ruffles]

I've been told that my little Moody 31 has excessive mast rake and I need to shorten the fore stay by around 1 1/2 ". Apparently the rake is around 10" and should be half that.

Just so happens that the Furlex has a 6" link plate so I could just get a shorter plate. But would it be possible to use a rigging screw instead? Obviously the furler would tend to apply torque to the fitting but would the pins on the screw be enough to resist this? Thing is there's enough thread on the backstay. But it'll be tight getting the thread started!

You can see the link plate below between two swivels:

Also, how do I measure mast rake? Presumably a heavy weight on the main halyard but isn't the slightest breeze going to be a problem?

 

[sailorman]

I've been told that my little Moody 31 has excessive mast rake and I need to shorten the fore stay by around 1 1/2 ". Apparently the rake is around 10" and should be half that.

Just so happens that the Furlex has a 6" link plate so I could just get a shorter plate. But would it be possible to use a rigging screw instead? Obviously the furler would tend to apply torque to the fitting but would the pins on the screw be enough to resist this? Thing is there's enough thread on the backstay. But it'll be tight getting the thread started!

You can see the link plate below between two swivels:

Also, how do I measure mast rake? Presumably a heavy weight on the main halyard but isn't the slightest breeze going to be a problem?

10" is just fine imho.
tie a winch handle to a flag halliard & measure it

 

[VicS]

Id not like to comment on the amount of rake but I'd only be thinking of altering it if there was a problem with the way the boat sails.. excessive weather helm for example.
Advice from the Owners Association is what?

You say the link plate is 6" ... I doubt if you would get a significantly shorter rigging screw.

You could shorten it by more than half, if that turns out to be required, by using a toggle. I suppose you could use two toggles but shortening the link plate might be the way forward if necessary

Measure as rake as sailorman says but don't do it on a windy day!

If you dont have flag (burgee) halyard from the mast head use the main halyard or topping lift.

 

[Ruffles]

10" is just fine imho.
tie a winch handle to a flag halliard & measure it

Ben at Shore sails knows a thing or two about Moodys and he reckons 4" is about right for these boats. Worth a try anyway.

 

[VicS]

Ben at Shore sails knows a thing or two about Moodys and he reckons 4" is about right for these boats. Worth a try anyway.

See what you can manage with a couple of toggles then ( even shackles in the short term) Once you know thecorrect measurement you can set about shortening the link plates.

Add a toggle to the back stay if necessary to extend that

 

[Ruffles]

See what you can manage with a couple of toggles then ( even shackles in the short term) Once you know the correct measurement you can set about shortening the link plates.

Add a toggle to the back stay if necessary to extend that

Any recommendations on where to buy the bits? Do chandlers sell link plates and toggles and the like?

Yes, the boat can be a bit hard nosed. New main has made a big difference though.

 

[VicS]

Any recommendations on where to buy the bits? Do chandlers sell link plates and toggles and the like?

Yes, the boat can be a bit hard nosed. New main has made a big difference though.

Chandlers, esp those who do rigging stuff like bottle screws, will do toggles.

the link plates may be part of the Furlex gear. You may have to modify the existing.

Your picture is a bit too small and at the wrong angle to see exactly what is there.

 

[tyce]

Why not just cut and drill the link plate you have now, 0 cost to you.
I have a Moody 31 i think i will measure my rake and see what i have.

 

[Resolution]

Yes, the boat can be a bit hard nosed. New main has made a big difference though.

Ruffles

What do you mean by "hard nosed"? Not an expression I have come across, so far.

 

[William_H]

Shortening forestay

Firstly correction for you. I think the devices on the link plates are "toggles" not swivels. A toggle allows bend in 2 directions while a swivel allows easy rotation.
It should be possible to remove the 2 toggles and use the plates as the only connection or just use one toggle at the bottom. That is if you don't want to cut the plate.
reducing the mast rake will raise your boom more. This may be desirable. As said however if the boat sails OK as is then leave it.
I presume by hard "nosed" you mean weather helm. This is more likely to become apparent when hard pressed. Reducing mast rake will not reduce weather helm by any significant extent. You need to reduce sail area by rolling up the jib a little. good luck olewill

 

[Highland laddie]

Measuring mast rake

Weighted halyard and weight suspended in a bucket of water at deck level, not touching the bottom of the bucket of course.