Q:  I have an Isomat mast on a 30' sailboat. The mast currently has too much aft rake (about eight inches) and I need to reduce it by two to three inches, but the headstay furler adjustment (turnbuckle) is fully shortened. There’s a pin through the masthead truck to which the headstay is attached. Rather than get a new headstay made up and try to thread it through the furler, can I get a shorter pin for the top of the mast?

A:   Replacing the pin probably won’t work—the one you describe is just long enough to get a clevis through the toggle on the end of the masthead pin and the eye of the forestay swage-end. A shorter pin is probably not available from the manufacturer. Having the pin cut shorter and re-welded may gain an inch or so, but it’s not likely to reduce the rake of the mast by the three inches you need.

Given that the turnbuckle is already shortened as far as possible, shortening the forestay is the most likely solution. It needn’t be renewed unless it shows signs of deterioration—a broken strand, pitting and discolouration or “furler unwrap” (the natural “lay” of the wire has been undone by improper furler function). One swaged fitting can be cut off and a new one swaged on at the correct length, then the entire business reassembled. When removing the furling gear, the foil must be disassembled at each joint to allow the swaged fitting at the end of the forestay to pass.

Keep in mind that the foresail foil may need to be shortened, as well as the luff of the sail, depending on how much shorter the forestay becomes. A shorter turnbuckle or the removal of extra toggles should also be considered as a means to shorten the effective length of the forestay without interfering with the furling gear and sails.

View this as an opportunity to thoroughly inspect your furling gear and make any updates needed.