"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.

...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?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King