1981 C-38 Mast rake question

[duffer1960]

I have tried to rake my mast backward as far as possible, and I swear it still looks like it leans forward. It is back far enough that it hits the aft end of the hole in the cabin top. Is it possible to move the base of the mast forward and this is my problem (the base too far aft), or do I just have a weird boat?

[sailnaway]

Duffer did you shim the mast foward or put the wedges in back of the mast. My 38 Catalina has a fair amount of rake to the mast you should be able to look up the side of the mast lay your face aginst the mast and see what it looks like. My mast is raked six inches aft at the top tighten your foward lowers to pull the belly foward loosen head stay and tighten backstay if still not raked. Some masts have been tuned to take out weather helm which increases on a 38 Catalina as you rake the mast aft. This is a very high bread race machine and proper tune is hard to find sometimes. You should see the rake when you sight right up the mast have someone else do this also incase your eyes are playing tricks. It should be very aparent however.