[quote=Edchris177]There are quite a few variables that contribute to weather helm, mast rake being only one of them. If I sail my 5.7 with several people on board, weather helm increases noticeably if they are towards the rear.
Adjusting those little white plastic screws in the rudder castings of the Nacra make a big difference. They only give a total range of about 1/2", but that 1/2" makes a very big difference.
Golfdad, make sure your rudders are being pulled down til they hit the castings, & that they stay there. I'm using 1/4" Sta Set & it works fine. I pull the line tight with one hand, then push the line into the V grooves with the other, preventing even a fraction of slippage as the cleat grabs.
When reading Berman & Whites books on setting up & racing cats I believe it says that raking is not merely to prevent pitchpoling, but that it also gives more power, & better pointing, at the expense of more weather helm.(correct me if I'm wrong on that last point, the books are at the cottage, I'm home moving kids back to University this weekend).
Bermans book also states that originally Nacras were sailed with near vertical masts, but the norm now was to rake them. I'll have to re read that section as I cannot quote the paragraph.
I think MUMMP has his set up with 2-10 hole chainplates, though the stay length would have to be accounted for.
I have not let the halyard hang, & measured how far mine is raked, but i am at the top hole of a 10 hole adjuster, using standard length stay, & weather helm is there, but not unmanageable for a couple of hours. I have more weather helm on a starboard tack than port, still trying to determine the cause of that.[/quote]
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