Fore aft rake for an Arcadia

[MartyB]

ANy one know what the fore aft rake of the mast on an 85 Arcadia should be. While I have all the original owners stuff when we bought this boat the first of May, the rigging is way out of whack ie loose etc, and needs to some work. If someone knows a good place to start, that would work also.

Thanks
Marty

[Tim]

Hi Marty.

First thing to do is to check that all of your systems are working properly. Is the rigging loose because it has been slackened or is there another reason?

Things to check:

*Spreader brackets
*Chain plates
*Bottle screws

I don't know about the rig of an Arcadia. Can the mast foot be moved fore and aft/ How many spreader sets do you have? Is your backstay adjustable?

[MartyB]

Tim,

It does have an adjustible back stay. Side shrouds, IIRC 2 maybe 3 per side are to me a bit loose sitting at moorage. There is also a mini forestay. Two spreaders, one I know does nee new bolts, as the holes are a bit big. I should probably start there.
But I figure in the mean time, the rest of the rigging could be tightened for a bit more performance.
Under sail Monday afternoon in some 15Knt breezes, the for stay appeared to be some 2-3" side and bowed towards the mast with a SWAG'ing 140 Genoa. I was told I had a 110 and a storm jib, but low and behold, the 110 is definetly NOT a 110, more like a 140-150. Stock at the time was a 140, storm jib, mainsail.
The side shrouds on either tack are move by up to an inch, way looser than I like.
There is plenty of room for improvement, I figured I would start with the correct sitting aft rake, then tighten the rest of the shrouds and stays, then when I can get fiance to help me go up the mast, then replace the bolts with in the next 30 days or so to improve that portion.
Then somewhere along the line, replace the original sails, but that is another day and dollar(s)! ;D

Marty

[Tim]

Hey Marty.

having an adjustable backstay is a good start because it means you can have a pretty straight mast and then bend it as the wind picks up.

The babystay (or mini forestay) is there to pull the lower part of the mast forward and prevent the bend inverting if you a running under kite in a bit of a blow.

Make sure your spreaders are stiff and then it's time to experiment!

You will always get some forestay bend but that does sound like a lot. Tighten your shrouds up a bit but don't do it too much as your doors won't shut inside.

Make sure the mast is right in the middle of the boat by using the main halyard. Lock it off so the fitting just trouvhes the chain plate on one side and then see where it comes on the other side. Adjust until they are identical.

Then do some sailing. See how the boat feels upwind when nicely powered up (10 knots +). If you have an unreasonable amount of weather helm then the mast has too much rake. If you don't have enough "feel" it needs more. Play with the settings a bit (keep a record of what you are doing) until the boat feels good and the numbers start telling you it is.

If the foot can be moved pop it in the middle for the time being.

[MartyB]

FInally got a chance over the weekend after adjusting the stays to try it out in some wind. Definetly handle better etc. Had a bit o lean to one side, the mast was raked backwards about 6" or so. Not have it as straight up and down as I can with out getting a laser light of some sort to it.

There is a slight amount of slack on the lower side shrouds in 15-20+ mph winds we had last weekend with main and a 140 up. Definetly need a smaller jib, or plan to reef/dbl reef the main in winds this strong going upward.

Next is to figure out the starboard side halyards etc that are "NOT" what the owners manual says they are, ie the spinaker halyard is a mainsail foot tensioner! Along with the one that is supposed to be. Then to figure out which of the holes on the mast are for jib/spinaker halyards and rope them up, then buy they spinaker, more than likely a genaker/assymetric spinaker over a symetric.

I'm hoping if funds come in the way they are supposed to, to order a North genniker and 100/110 next week. :B

It will come along!

Marty