Mast Rake

[vikingdave]

Hello all, Having been browsing this site for many months as an outsider thought it was about time to join you good folks. So my first (probably of many) cry for help is: could anyone help with a good start point for setting the mast rake on a 32ft Alan Buchanan designed vessel. She was built around 1961 and is clinker construction with I believe the original wooden mast. Not sure what Model she is.

 

[mickshep]

Welcome to the forums, can get a bit fraught on here from time to time but a great source of info, My 1st thought would be to set the mast up straight and vertical. once you have done this take her out under sail and see how she behaves. Whilst inducing bend in a mast can help take out a bit of fullness in the main I would think very carefully before doing it as the extra tension required may damage an old clinker boat. Is she fractionaly rigged or m/head. Mike.

 

[vikingdave]

Hi Mike, thanks for the fast response. She is m/head rigged. I had heard that one degree rake is a good start but being a novice wanted to check.

 

[mickshep]

To be honest, setting up the mast to 1 degree of accuracy would be beyond most people. Just adding a couple of people to an aft cockpit would make a bigger difference than that. I've just put the stick into my latest project and she's masthead rigged, I've tried to get it as plumb as I can and dead straight. Once I've added everything else and she's trimmed I'll take another look. Then sailing trials and I'll decide what to do from there, What class is she? You'll have to post some pictures of her, good luck. Mike.

 

[Tranona]

Is it stepped on the deck in a tabernacle? in which case it may have the heel shaped to determine the rake. If it is keel stepped then again the mast step may be set for the correct rake. But it may be floating so that you can adjust the rake by pulling on the backstay and slackening off the forestay.

As suggested, probably best to put it in vertical to the waterline or wherever it goes if it has preset rake and try it.