Hi guys.

I would like to pick you brains if anyone can help, what is the best way to get the boat level on shore to get my mast upright setting marked off, where would you guys recommend I take the spirit level reading from ?

Consensus is to put your spirit level on the stem and set that vertical.  Theoretically what you want is the boat's static loaded waterline set level, opinions invited!

I would take it off the stem. Some say the transom but the rowsell Thin Ice had an angled transom (not sure your does though). the thwart is often level but not a given. The sten should always be exactly verticle.

Thanks guys for your advise !

Just another thought, your "Zero" setting is really only a "relative" position to give you a baseline for further rake adjustment. Once you are happy with your "Zero" position, suggest you measure masthead to transom top (centreline) - tape measure tied to main halyard. You can then use this for any subsequent set up without recourse to spirit levels etc. For a Winder the accepted "Zero" measurement is 7070 mm.

Hi Darren, 
use the stem - the transom isn't vertical, as Jez quite rightly pointed out.  The zero setting on the superspar mast you have is absolute zero rake, with nominal rig tension.  We often sailed with more rake on, probably position 1 or 2 usually as a start position with increasing centreboard rake to keep a more or less neutral helm as the mast comes back. The thing to remember is the length of the jib wire including shackles is important in this - change the jib and its wire length and those settings all change too.  The jib supplied and its shackles is paired with those calibrations on the mast.  The small shackle at the top of the jib was added to move the calibration range to the bottom of the mast instead of starting part way up.

We always used the tuning guide (developed by Taxi I think)link below. The mast tip to transom figures are different too, due to the slightly higher transom on the Thin Ice compared to a Winder CT.  I think from memory it was 40mm less on all of the figures in the tuning guide. Once you establish the datum with your mast vertical and measure that dimension you can decide how different it is to the figures in the guide.

Without doubt one of the most confusing and satisfying parts of the set up to do, juggling rig tension, mast rake and mast bend. The guide should help de mystify most of it.  Ultimately, we just put as little rake on as we could get away with without killing our legs or not being able to keep it flat - quite possibly lazy sailing!

Well done at Bala, see you on the water soon

Thanks Kieron for that information, I am sure all your setting are fine, I want so see where dead upright is so I can mark it and work from there, I have had a look at many guides and they all say the same thing so I will have a play tomorrow, I look forward to seeing and racing against your new ship soon !

Hi Darren, I would definitely review all of the settings no matter who I got a boat from - nothing quite like understanding why they are the way they are, things stretch and move so regular re calibration does no harm at all - good luck with them.