Jerry,
I probably did not describe this very accurately.  But what it says in 
my book, Colgate's basic sailing theory, is that adjusting the backstay 
properly would free the Leech of the sail which they show as hooking to 
weather.  Essentially the picture is a nice foil shape on the sail until 
right in front of the battens where it hooks to the weather side 
destroying the shape.  There is a sharp discontinuity or angle in the 
sail shape right in front of the battern area or a line as you say.  
This is exactly what I was seeing with my new main.  The back one fifth 
of the sail is at an angle to the rest of the sail.  There is a line or 
fold in the sail right in front of the battens so the battens/Leech form 
what looks like an angle of 30 or 45 degrees to the rest of the sail.  
The sail manufacturer suggested working with the down haul to try and 
correct this which I have not tried yet.  I was going to get the rake 
set and see if that fixed things.
According to the picture in the book shortening the distance between the 
top of the mast and the end of the boom (by adjusting the backstay) will 
help free the leech or correct this.  Now that I look at it though, I am 
not sure that the mast rake will effect this much since the backstay 
adjustment they show is bending the mast and I was working on getting 
the proper rake which is only the angle of the mast not bending it 
right?  What it looked like is that previously the stays had the mast 
vertical with the halyard/plumb bob falling right next to the mast.  The 
new stay lengths have the halyard about 12" back from the mast base 
which was what was advised for proper mast rake on the list here.
I am a bit perplexed since I am not very knowledgeable on sails and sail 
tuning nor tuning the rig. I certainly appreciate any suggestions that 
would help clear this up.

Thanks,
Robbin

jerry wrote:
> Hi Robbin- I don't understand your comment about the main hooking to weather
> in a line at the fron of the battens.  Could you elaborate on thaat?
> Usually a haard line along the front of the battens comes from the battens
> being too stiff, or a poorly cut/worn out main, and usually it's the ends of
> the battens, at the leach, that hook to weather.
>
> I foot of rake on the mast doesn't seems too excessive to me, but the
> definative thing is that the weather helm should be just right.
>
> Jerry
> jerrymontgomery.org
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "robbin roddewig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats"
> <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008 6:31 AM
> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Level Reference
>
>
>   
>> Thanks Jerry,
>> made the trip to the marina yesterday and with the longer forestay you
>> produced the mast was raked about 12" back!  Much different position
>> than previously where is was straight up if not a bit raked forward.
>> To get the cockpit benches level I had to remove the 7.5hp outboard
>> (glad that thing stays in place all year) and stood forward in the
>> cockpit.  The backstay is being shortened at Annapolis rigging so the
>> rig should be in a much better state for the next sail.
>> I have a new main but it was hooking to windward fairly severely along a
>> line at the front of the battens.  My sailing book said this would
>> happen if the mast if too far forward so I am hoping this solves the
>> issue with the main.  Anyone have any experience with this they could
>>     
> offer?
>   
>> Thanks
>> Robbin
>>
>> jerry wrote:
>>     
>>> Robbin- the boat will float bow down with nobody in the cockpit.
>>> Theoretically the seats should be level with a couple of people fwd in
>>>       
> the
>   
>>> cockpit.
>>>
>>> Jerry
>>> jerrymontgomery.org
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "robbin roddewig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats"
>>> <[email protected]>
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 4:34 AM
>>> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Level Reference
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> Tim,
>>>> I also have new standing rigging which is not right and have to have a
>>>> new backstay made (old rigging was lost when the new stuff was made),
>>>>         
> so
>   
>>>> I need to measure with the mast raked correctly.  I am going to use the
>>>> halyard with the boat floating and me not on it to get the correct mast
>>>> position.  I cannot think of another way to do it.  I will try and see
>>>> if the benches or cockpit floor register level with the boat floating.
>>>> Then if they are they could be used as a reference on the trailer.
>>>>
>>>> Robbin
>>>>
>>>> Tim Diebert wrote:
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>>> Right....sorry......I actually was wondering if the cockpit sole...the
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>> berth
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> decks ....the cockpit benches....or whatever is a level reference.
>>>>> That way I can easily level the boat fore and aft on the trailer and
>>>>>           
> try
>   
>>> and
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> have a reference starting point for mast rake. Rather than using a
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>> painted
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> on water line that has been tweaked by PO's.
>>>>> I have new standing rig on the boat and am playing with rake. I reckon
>>>>>           
> I
>   
>>>>> have it too far right now but would like to try the recommended point.
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>> If
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> the boat is not level....using the halyard method isn't going to work.
>>>>> Unless I am missing something.....then that would make an even dozen
>>>>>           
> for
>   
>>>>> today.
>>>>> Tim
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
>>>>>           
> Tom
>   
>>>>> Jenkins
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 8:38 AM
>>>>> To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'
>>>>> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Level Reference
>>>>>
>>>>> Tim,
>>>>> I don't know what has been said by others, but you might borrow one of
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>> those
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> inexpensive infrared thermometers and find where the temp changes on
>>>>>           
> the
>   
>>>>> hull.  I do it to find the level of heating oil in my tank, but have
>>>>>           
> not
>   
>>>>> tried it myself on less conductive fiberglass.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom Jenkins
>>>>> M17 Scintilla
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
>>>>>           
> Tim
>   
>>>>> Diebert
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 5:29 AM
>>>>> To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'
>>>>> Subject: M_Boats: Level Reference
>>>>>
>>>>> I know it was asked but did not see a reply.
>>>>> Is there an area of the 17 hull that is a known level reference
>>>>>           
> relative
>   
>>> to
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> water line?
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't always read all the emails......so if anyone got this one some
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>> help
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> would be grand.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tim and PUFF
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.0/1507 - Release Date:
>>>>         
> 6/18/2008
>   
>>> 7:09 AM
>>>
>>>       
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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>   
>>     
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
>
>   

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