Islander 28 mast bend

[remlap]

I am currently tuning the rig on my 1984 I28 with about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mast width of bend aft. Is anyone else bending their mast and if so how much? Is a full mast width to much?
Paul Palmer

[Faster]

It really depends on your mainsail's construction. The sailmaker will have designed the sail for a certain amount of mast bend. If he built it for a straight mast, then putting in bend will flatten the sail more than intended. (however if this is an old sail it may actually help things!)

Insufficient bend will mean a deeper draft sail.

I'd suggest you leave it for now, go sailing and see what the sail looks like, where the draft is and how deep. If it's an old sail or from a loft no longer local or in business, without taking it in to another sailmaker it will be difficult to know what the original parameters were.

You might also specifically target Islander owners groups for first hand information on setting up the I28 rig.

[remlap]

Thanks for your reply. I was wanting to know how much you can bend a typical mast without risking damage to the mast. They are very strong when in column but they are much weaker when out of column.