H23.5: can the mast be lowered stepped after the rigging is tuned?

Feb 22, 2025
15
Hunter 23.5 Navarre
After the rigging is tuned on a Hunter 23.5, can the mast be lowered and stepped again without touching the turnbuckles on the shrouds? Or do you have to loosen or remove the turnbuckles and re-tune each time the mast is stepped?
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,540
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
The shrouds can stay in place, but the forestay will need to be loosened to unpin lower and retightened after it is raised and repined.

Take extra care, take extra care that the turnbuckles are straight up and down before raising the mast.
That should be in BOLD TYPE and a foot stomper, STOMP, STOMP "Take extra care that the turnbuckles are straight up and down", STOMP, STOMP.
 
Aug 1, 2021
51
Hunter 23.5 Lake Rathbun
Yes, watch the turnbuckles and shrouds for any kinks or catching on something. If you feel any resistance stop and assess. If all is setup right the mast goes up and down easily. A really good system I think.
 
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Sep 30, 2016
370
Island Packet IP 44 Ventura, CA
I found it much easier to raise/lower the mast if the side shrouds were loosened a few turns. I would simply count how many turns I loosened them, and then write that on a piece of masking tape with a sharpe that I taped to that particular turnbuckle. Never had an issue.
 
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Jun 8, 2004
10,428
-na -NA Anywhere USA
@FWBpilot
I designed the mast raising systems for the hunter water ballast boats. There is a detailed two page memo found under boat information Hunter 23.5 down grades. There will be questions which I will be glad to answer your questions. You should be able to disconnect the forestay without loosing the forestay or shrouds

crazy dave
 
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Jun 2, 2004
3,540
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
I had completely forgotten about this project. Before I began loosening the forestay when pulling the mast forward enough to pin it I'd hear popping and cracking from the ubolt in the anchor locker.

I removed the ubolt and added a very substantial four bolt padeye pulled from a barging bin at West Marine with an even more substantial 4" X 6" X 1" aluminum backing plate that came from the shipping container for an AGM-45. No noises from the fiberglass after that.
 
Feb 22, 2025
15
Hunter 23.5 Navarre
Thanks all. I'm steeping the mast today while the boat is in the water by the dock for the first time.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,540
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Make sure the shroud toggles are straight up and down on the ubolts.

Just in case nobody has mentioned it before
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,428
-na -NA Anywhere USA
I spoke with @FWBpilot vthis evening his questions. He has 12 inches depth of water at the end of his dock. The water line down to the bottom of the centerboard in up position is 18 inches. We went over the possibilitys but would ask him to advise what he will do.
There is an issue with the rudder but asked to forward some photos before commenting.
He purchased a mast section and rivited in place in the area of the area of the spreader based on some company advice. I have concerns and left it at that
 

MrEd

.
Jun 5, 2004
72
Hunter 240 Louisville, KY/ Patoka Lake,IN
I concur with Dave’s comments. Once the rig is properly tuned there should no need to fiddle with it after lowering/raising the mast. Using Dave’s gin pole system, I’ve been dealing with the mast as a one-man operation in my slip for 25 years. And…Triple stomp for minding those shroud turnbuckles.
 
Feb 22, 2025
15
Hunter 23.5 Navarre
When replacing the cracked mast, I made very precise measurements and placed everything on the new mast section. Most rivets were 3/16'", but there were eight 1/4" rivets on the goose-neck and two 1/4" rivets on each spreader. Each spreader also had two 1/4" bolts. I basically copied 100% the way the cracked mast was built, on the new mast, rivet for rived, bolt for bolt. The new mast works great, no issues in raising or lowering.
On the Low tide issue: I got up at 3:15AM just to measure the water level at LOW TIDE. I had 2' 4". What a relief! I still plan to dredge out a 12 inch deep area under the centerboard, just to be safe.
I appreciate all the comments, advice, and suggestions. I'm new to sailing, so everything is new to me. (30 years of powerboat experience).
-Adrian
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,540
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
When replacing the cracked mast, I made very precise measurements and placed everything on the new mast section. Most rivets were 3/16'", but there were eight 1/4" rivets on the goose-neck and two 1/4" rivets on each spreader. Each spreader also had two 1/4" bolts. I basically copied 100% the way the cracked mast was built, on the new mast, rivet for rived, bolt for bolt. The new mast works great, no issues in raising or lowering.
On the Low tide issue: I got up at 3:15AM just to measure the water level at LOW TIDE. I had 2' 4". What a relief! I still plan to dredge out a 12 inch deep area under the centerboard, just to be safe.
I appreciate all the comments, advice, and suggestions. I'm new to sailing, so everything is new to me. (30 years of powerboat experience).
-Adrian
Welcome out of the dark side