DSK wrote:

"MC" wrote...

You know where the mast goes through the deck? Is it fixed in the metal
ring perhaps with a big bolt?


Have you seen many keelboats with masts fixed by a thru-bolt at the partners?
This is not a very common arrangement at all over here. In fact I haven't ever
seen one.



Well it is seen in offshore boats. It serves to lock the deck to the
mast to make the deck stronger as well as ensuring the parner seal
doesn't work when the mast pumps.


...It's just that if you were interested in
altering rake my adjustments at deck level it would be impossible with a
bolted partner... Instead you would have to alter rake at the mast foot
and that is also impossible on many boats as the foot casing is welded
or bonded to a ring frame.

Donal wrote:
I think that there are wooden chocks holding it in a vertical position.

Underneath the mast, there is a metal plate (SS or ally??) with two vertical
plates welded to it. These verticals are either side of the mast, and a
bolt goes through the lot.


Donal it apears that if you were interested in changing the rake of your mast,
or perhaps even shifting the whole mast a little bit forward or aft, it would be
possible (as it is on most properly rigged boats). A little work at the chocks
and/or at the step. However you've always said that your boat sails well, please
don't think I am advocating this.

One thing to take a close look at, before such an undertaking, is what the
structural grid under the mast step is like. Usually (in a properly designed and
built boat) there is allowance for the mast butt to be moved a couple inches,
maybe less, each way; and there is sufficient structural strength to support it.

It seems that MC has never tuned a keelboat and isn't sure how masts are
adjusted; or it may be that his own much-bragged-about has it's mast fixed
rather oddly... perhaps the riggers did it on purpose so that he couldn't mess
it up?



Aw, you really should try to get your jealousy under control. In fact I
altered the rig last year when my new contender racing sails were made.

Cheers