Mast Over-rotation??

I just checked the old-school H14 assembly manual and my mast base and mast step seem to be as they should. I have an oldschool cat, 1974 so it probably has the original mast design. The problem is whenever sailing (no matter what kind of reach I'm on), my mast just goes all the way till the stops contact and the mast cannot rotate anymore, I am estimating 70 degrees from centre. When close hauled, it seems counter-intuiative that the mast should be rotated completely over, so much so that I get the feeling the sideways mast is plowing into the wind as opposed to slicing through it.. When I tack/gibe the mast will just rotate completely over to the other side. Is this normal, or should the mast only be rotating to the extremes of the stops on a broad reach?? Are there various angles that the mast is supposed to be rotated at, or is it just all the way left/all the way right?

If this is not normal what are some possible things I am doing wrong?

Thanks a lot!!

On the stock 14 and 16 masts, the mast always rotates all the way to the stops. Since the main blocks connect to the boom aft of the rear crossbar, when you sheet in, the boom pushes forward and forces the mast to rotate.

The updated 14 class rules now allow you to add a rotation bar (similar to a 17 or 18) so you can have adjustable mast rotation. But it probably isn't worth it unless you're racing.

sm

SRM, thanks for your input. I'll just stick with the current setup and sleep better knowing my mast is functioning the way it should.