SECTION V:
TUNING FOR PERFORMANCE
Mast Rake:
To measure the amount of mast rake, your
mast must be up with your rig tension snug.
Lay a carpenter’s level on the trampoline just
aft of the hatch. Adjust the boat until it is
level fore and aft and relatively level from
side to side. Attach a one or two pound
weight (a heavy wrench will work) onto the
main halyard. Using the main halyard as a
plumb, measure the distance from the aft
edge of the mast at the black band to the
center of the plumb. This distance is how
much mast rake you have. We recommend
between six and ten inches of aft rake. You
may find that you prefer slightly less or
more.
MAST ROTATION
The Prindle 15 and 18 come equipped stan-
dard with an adjustable mast rotation control
(wishbone device on the mast). For most
sailing this rotation should be set between
60 and 75 degrees from straight back. A
good rule of thumb is to have the wishbone
pointing at the shroud when you are sailing
to weather. As you ease the traveler out,
the rotation will automatically increase so
that it should be between 80 and 100
degrees for downwind sailing. When sailing
to weather, an increase in rotation will flatten
the mainsail and less rotation will make the
mainsail fuller.
BARBERHAULER
A barberhauler sys-
tem works like a
traveler for the jib
and is used for
broad reaching and
downwind sailing.
It is optional equip-
ment. This system
is generally used to
get that “extra
edge” while racing
and is not neces-
sary for pleasure
sailing. The bar-
berhauler will pull
the clew of the jib
out to the end of
the front crossbar which will give it a slightly
better shape and make it easier to trim
properly.
FOUR-WAY JIB SYSTEM
The optional four-way jib system has a few
basic positions and infinite options in
between. Use these basic guidelines to dis-
cover your preferences.
The four and aft track:
Set at center position for light to medium
air.
Set at aft position for heavy air.
To side to side lead:
Set at 8” inboard in light air.
Move position outboard as wind picks up
until lead is about 2 to 5 inches inboard
when you are a little overpowered.
You may find in certain downwind conditions
that having the barberhauler (option and
seperate from the four-way jib system) all
the way out is too far for proper wind flow.
In medium to heavy conditions setting the
barber 8 to 15 inches from fully outboard is
optimum.
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