MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Mast rake and slot gasket

I have just taken ownership of a vintage Merlin, a Hornblower 206. It has an original gold anodised, spreader-less proctor mast of unknown section. Can anybody give me an idea as to what mast rake these boats would normally have been set at with a suit of soft sails? The slot gasket has disintegrated and I wondered what people used at that time as I was hoping to keep her as original as possible. Thanks for any help.


Posted: 13/06/2007 18:08:33
By: Stuart
About 9 inch rake - top of mast to gooseneck. Or with boat level, adjust rake [with mainsail up] until boom is horizontal. I think that last part is from Ian Proctor's book Racing Dinghy Handling)


Posted: 13/06/2007 18:37:12
By: Miles
I'd be suprised if the mast wasn't a D section and speaders, brackets etc are still readily available. Rake wise somewhere between 6 and 10 inches will be fine, for the slot gasket everyone is still using sailcloth as far as i know. Any of the leading sailmakers will behappy to help you.


Posted: 13/06/2007 23:19:20
By: Chris
You can use sailcloth for the slot gasket but I have found that the neoprene pond liner from garden centres is soft, easily to cut and it doesnt fray.  As an added bonus it is designed to be immersed.


Posted: 14/06/2007 09:02:16
By: Garry R
I had a Proctor D on 2143, no spreaders, they weren't needed.


Posted: 14/06/2007 17:39:29
By: Miles
Proctor D on 1620 did not have any spreaders originally, though I later fitted some. If you do, don't follow the current advice about setting them up, which is appropriate for much more rigid hulls; with an older hull  and lower rig tension,the spreader tip has to push the shroud much more out of line to get the same bending effect on the mast.


Posted: 14/06/2007 17:50:44
By: Rod & Jo

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