Forestays length HC14?

How long should they be?

Mine were replaced by someone somewhere along the way and the mast seems to be raked back a bit too much. I am basing that on the fact that the mast bottom is not parallel with its side surfaces on the mast base.

How rigid should the mast be? How do you guage it?

Also is there supposed to be some kind of bushing between the mast and the base? I put a piece of plastic from a yogurt container in there as it seemed a good idea. I also lubricated it with grease as I don't have to trailor it. I keep it assembled by the lake. I am confident that sand won't get into the grease. Any thoughts on using grease.

I am completely open to suggestions as I don't have any other cat sailors for probabably 1000 kilometers.

Your mast rake is probably correct. Most sailors try to rake their mast as far back as possible. The limiting factor is when your main sheet lower blocks hit the top blocks. Here's a photo from the H14 world championships. You should order some of the teflon disk that were originally designed for the mast / base connection. They are fairly cheap and last a long time.

Jack Hoying
Fort Loramie, Ohio

Thanks JM for all your replies.

He sure is raked back! About the same as I am.
I know that in windsurfing raking froward generally is better for certain times although honestly I do everything by feel and don't consciously remember what I have done. I suspect a variable rake system on the boat would be beneficial in racing.

Thanks again

wow i didnt know it should be raked back that far, what if your just sailing around your lake should you do that?

I watched a H14 sailor this past weekend and he ran as much rake as he could (blocks right at each other) and then ran extremely loose shrouds so that he could rake it back forward downwind. He used a fairly heavy line (~3/8") from the front bridle chainplate to his front beam where he cleated it off. Pulling on this line downwind collapsed the forestay and bridles towards the tramp which brought the mast forward. He was very fast and deep down wind.

Tim Dry
MHRA Commodore
http://www.catamaranracing.org

It's an effective trick, but some guys have been doing this for years. Check out Phil Bermans 1984 Book - 'The Hobie 16 Performance Manual'. Fig. 5 Page 11 for a closeup picture of a 14 bridle rigged just like that.

try bob currys 14 tuning guide...he posted it here awhile back....it works......I did mine that way, and sail against bob on a regular basis................good luck...terry