Well, I got all the internal controls replaced with the good stuff...RMG winch etc. Controls working fine. My question concerns a rather severe weather helm. When I trim the jib in to the centerline of the boat and the main boom is pointing at the corner of the stern, the boat is just about balanced i.e., about 5 lengths before rounding up. If I let the jib out any at all I get an immediate weather helm that is more than 15 degrees of lee rudder can handle.
Data:
Mast: 25 1/2" from bow
Distance between jib leach and mast is about 2 inches
Rigging as per Zellanack
Jib balanced with lead
No rake (or very little)
Mast is straight
Moderate tension on Backstay (no tensionometer yet)
Shrouds and lowers lightly tensioned
Jumpers very lightly tensioned
Main seems to luff before jib
Neutral helm on wing-on-wing
Neutral when boat is pushed (like into the wind)
Lower/Lowers not attached
Wind was about 5 mph
Very little wave action
Twist approximately matched between jib and main
My question...do I just keep moving the mast forward until I don't have such a severe weather helm when the jib boom points at the shroud on close hauled.
I've read a bunch on tuning but it seems like my mast is pretty far forward as it is. I wanted to question whether I should move it farther forward or if some other thing is the issue.
Thanks guys.
-terry