[quote=mgoltsman][quote=JohnES]
If your mast is not rotating freely when you tac, you may have your shrouds too tight for the winds you're sailing in... On the 16, there is a mast rotation tab limiter on mast base to keep your rotation to under what I believe 45 degrees... You should be able to freely move the mast to the stops with your hands.
[/quote]
Huh. You're the first one who said mast could be too tight. The manual actually says to use the wind in the sail to tighten the leeward shroud then turn the boat around and tighten the other side to match. I was actually sure that if anything my sidestays are too loose because I was too chicken to do this on the trailer. My rig tension is such that you can just barely reach the bridle shackle with the forestay without pulling much. I tried to adjust the sidestays once without the aid of the sail but couldn't quite reach the next hole in the shrouds. Will try to tighten the forestay turnbuckle a touch but have to be careful not to tighten it so much that I can't reach the forestay to the bridle next time. I hope I don't have to loosen and tighten the turnbuckle each time I rig the boat!
I -THINK- the mast rotates freely when I don't have wind in the sails - it was only jamming under noticeable stress (perhaps because the mast tilts sideways enough that the rotator limiter tab touches the mast base?). Will check next time I rig the boat (may be spring - it's getting cold here in a hurry).
[quote=JohnES]
With that, you mast base looks pretty clean..... I have seen worse. I use carry a Scotch-Brite pad along with some water or Windex with me to clean the mast base before each sail on my Prindle's.... You may want to get in there with some wet/dry 400- 600 grit paper and polish it up a bit more than it is, but overall your OK there... How is you mast bearing (half ball) is it rough and old - white chalky color? If so may be time for a new one...
[/quote]
It does have some grooves and powder on the base, but not so much that powder residue would spread onto the crossbeam or something. The surface is obviously rough to the touch - not sure if the photo shows that - but without any real sharp spikes or anything. I suppose I could give it a little rubdown with a fine sandpaper - though I think the imperfections are deep enough that a dremel abrasive ball would be required to make it smooth to the touch. This is why I am concerned whether I would be making more harm than good by increasing the size of the mast base indentation.[/quote]
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