Hi All: Here's a question for you rigging experts out there, like Jerry... I noticed that my mast seemed to have a slight bend aft when I bought it. I didn't initially worry about it, thinking this is the result of some normal overzealous backstay tensioner application. But I've just put the mast up the other day and sighted it a little more closely. The bend certainly seems concentrated at the spreaders. It's not a SHARP bend, but it isn't a smooth curve going all the way up the mast either. Played with the shrouds some, and can't remove the bend with headstay tension. We're talking about, maybe, 3" at the masthead, though it's hard to say for sure. Do you folks think this is anything to worry about? A pair of after lowers to the deck would pull the mast back in column pretty quickly, and I DON'T want to replace a mast. Thanks BG -- Brian Gilbert Marine Media Author, Fix It and Sail (423)876-1016 3404 Hartford Drive Chattanooga, TN 37415 www.sailingsmall.com