Just bought Cd31 #18 & haven't sailed her yet. The mast is raked as far forward as possible. I am more inclined to rake it aft a little or set it straight. Thoughts!!!
John
redzeplin@yahoo.com
Mast Rake
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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chuck yahrling
Re: Mast Rake
My advice is to try it as it is to test for how much weather helm you have, then compare with no rake e.g plumb. If the boat has a lot of weather helm with a forward rake, you may need to try some serious draft control. CDs tend to have a lot of weather helm, especially if you have old baggy sails such as the original Ulmer sails. If you have a newer generation mainsail with the draft cut more forward, this will be less of an issue.John wrote: Just bought Cd31 #18 & haven't sailed her yet. The mast is raked as far forward as possible. I am more inclined to rake it aft a little or set it straight. Thoughts!!!
John
However, it should not need more than a plumb rake to control weather helm. With a plumb mast and a good main, try putting in a reef at 12-15 knots (true wind) close hauled, and compare with no reef. If the boat still has a lot of helm, your main may be bagged out and needing a replacement.
cyahrlin@cisco.com
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Mast Rake & cutter/masthead rigs.....
John,
Sounds as if someone was trying to remove an excess weather helm condition. Raking the mast aft will increase weather helm, lean it forward, reduce weather helm. But, a cutter rig as manufactured by CD, was, I believe designed to be in column. Straight up and down, fore and aft and side to side. A 1/2" to 1" lean aft is not bad. And, oh by the way, a little weather helm IS a safety feature, you don't ever want to have lee helm, the vessel would not point into the wind if you suddenly went "POC"(Passed Out Cold!).
If you sail in 25 knot winds, all flags flying, and you notice excess weather helm, throw a reef in her! The vessel will be more upright, not overpowered, and will be just as fast.
I do and have sailed Hanalei in 25 knots sustained with all flags flying. I have noticed a significant amount of weather helm in those conditions, but I wasn't racing, only having a little fun, and I am a NUT anyway!
Put the mast straight up and down, I think she will be very happy that way........
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
Sounds as if someone was trying to remove an excess weather helm condition. Raking the mast aft will increase weather helm, lean it forward, reduce weather helm. But, a cutter rig as manufactured by CD, was, I believe designed to be in column. Straight up and down, fore and aft and side to side. A 1/2" to 1" lean aft is not bad. And, oh by the way, a little weather helm IS a safety feature, you don't ever want to have lee helm, the vessel would not point into the wind if you suddenly went "POC"(Passed Out Cold!).
If you sail in 25 knot winds, all flags flying, and you notice excess weather helm, throw a reef in her! The vessel will be more upright, not overpowered, and will be just as fast.
I do and have sailed Hanalei in 25 knots sustained with all flags flying. I have noticed a significant amount of weather helm in those conditions, but I wasn't racing, only having a little fun, and I am a NUT anyway!
Put the mast straight up and down, I think she will be very happy that way........
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
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John Sill
Re: Mast Rake
I agree that the mast should be pretty straight or a slight aft lean. The Cd 31 is a little more tender than other CDs. You may have to reduce sail a couple of knots sooner.
jesill@erols.com
jesill@erols.com