H33 Mast Removal Procedure

[sea_casper]

The Owners Manual describes the procedure for stepping the mast, but has no guidance for unstepping.

Is there a preferred shroud loosening procedure?

The boat is a 2004 with furling mainsail which will of course be removed first.

The mast must come off for winter storage.

 

[Ed Schenck]

The way I do mine and have helped B&R owners is the same. Just before the crane arrives we go around in a circle loosening just a couple turns, shrouds to backstay to shrouds to forestay. Keep doing that until there is just enough slack that the pins will pop out. Can't comment on the mast step and wiring.

 

[sea_casper]

One thing that I am puzzled about is the number 2 diagonal shrouds, from the mast below the upper spar to the outside of the lower spreader. When stepping the mast and tuning the B&R rig, the manual states that on the H33 you must go up a Bosun's Chair to tighten the diagonal shrouds, does this imply that they should be loosened when taking the mast down?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Maybe a call to Hunter is in order. I just remember that when we took them down on the 38 and 44 we did not do anything with the diagonals. And I think we would have because the owners are very anal(hope they don't see this).

 

[slr]

For future readers... There is no need to loosen the upper (above first spreader) diagonals when unstepping a mast. But do make sure to loosen them before you restep and tune, because they are the last shroud you should tighten and you risk damaging the spreader ends if by chance you overdo it a little on the cap shrouds when tuning.
Good luck!

 

[sea_casper]

Spreaders are off

For future readers... There is no need to loosen the upper (above first spreader) diagonals when unstepping a mast. But do make sure to loosen them before you restep and tune, because they are the last shroud you should tighten and you risk damaging the spreader ends if by chance you overdo it a little on the cap shrouds when tuning.
Good luck!

They are very loose, after removing the mast we had to remove the spreaders to store the mast in the storage rack. In the spring I'll need to know the correct assembly procedure.

 

[Jake N Eggs]

B & R rig

They are very loose, after removing the mast we had to remove the spreaders to store the mast in the storage rack. In the spring I'll need to know the correct assembly procedure.

The rig tuning guide is in the owners manual. Follow it closely and you will be ok. The most important thing is the prebend and a straight mast before stepping.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

One thing about B&R rigs is that they can be a pain in the butt to tune (and you cannot go straight down wind DDW on a run). Otherwise they are great. You probably have a Selden mast and they make a tuning and rigging guide book that is free. I have a bunch in stock and I will send you one if you will pay for the postage (and give me an address to send it to.

 

[sea_casper]

I have guide

One thing about B&R rigs is that they can be a pain in the butt to tune (and you cannot go straight down wind DDW on a run). Otherwise they are great. You probably have a Selden mast and they make a tuning and rigging guide book that is free. I have a bunch in stock and I will send you one if you will pay for the postage (and give me an address to send it to.

Thanks Bill, I believe that I have that guide already.

 

[sea_casper]

Furling Mast

The rig tuning guide is in the owners manual. Follow it closely and you will be ok. The most important thing is the prebend and a straight mast before stepping.

Because I have the Furling Main, the prebend is minimal.

 

[Richard Bryer]

Re: Furling Mast

I un-step the mast every year for winter storage so this is a familiar procedure. No order for undoing the shrouds- I generally remove the lower shrouds before moving up to the crane and loosen the other two a bit as well as ease off the back stay. This is just for quicker operation once the crane is attached. I leave the diagonals tight until the mast is on the ground, then I relax them so the mast straightens. Then I remove all the shrouds that are un-attached to the mast and coil for storage on board on the hard. Spreaders come off for storage also.

Yes, B&R rigs are a pain to step and un-step. I always lift from the front of the mast so as not to get tangled in the rigging. Also make a diagram of the order (front to back of the spreader tips) in which the shrouds attach or pass through- every year I have to check it.

 

[sea_casper]

I un-step the mast every year for winter storage so this is a familiar procedure. No order for undoing the shrouds- I generally remove the lower shrouds before moving up to the crane and loosen the other two a bit as well as ease off the back stay. This is just for quicker operation once the crane is attached. I leave the diagonals tight until the mast is on the ground, then I relax them so the mast straightens. Then I remove all the shrouds that are un-attached to the mast and coil for storage on board on the hard. Spreaders come off for storage also.

Yes, B&R rigs are a pain to step and un-step. I always lift from the front of the mast so as not to get tangled in the rigging. Also make a diagram of the order (front to back of the spreader tips) in which the shrouds attach or pass through- every year I have to check it.

Pretty much what we did, we first looosened aft shrouds and then used jib halyard to take pressure off forestay and detached it first, we have no backstay.After mast was attached to crane we then loosened and removed shrouds. After removing spreaders, we left shrouds attached to mast, we will cover mast for winter. Cover will be open on bottom for air circulation. We also plan on lubing the Furler mechanism, we used messenger lines and removed Jib and Main halyards and Topping lift. The Boom is stored inside the boat.

 

[Jake N Eggs]

Furling Mast

Because I have the Furling Main, the prebend is minimal.

The pre bend is about 2" for the furling mast if I remember correctly. The rig adjustment after stepping removes the pre bend and the mast will be virtually straight. The rake is preset by your forestay. It is easy to put an "s" bend in the mast as you adjust it on the boat so take your time. Don't forget to set the mast in the center before tightening the stays too much. The reverse diagonals bend the mast and the diagonals straighten the mast. Both will bend the mast side to side if the tension is not even.

It's a few months away but good luck.

 

[Jake N Eggs]

Mast storage.

Sea_casper,

I forgot one thing. If you can, store your mast with one end high. There have been reports of frost damage to the furling foil if water accumulates and freezes.

 

[Nodak7]

Actually Sea_Casper I thought that the B&R was a pretty easy rig to step and unstep. We did a 33 and a 41 this spring and both went well even though there was no one around that had had any experience with them. The one other item that I would suggest is that you mark the turnbuckles before loosening anything. This will speed up the stepping process. Also we did removed the spreader ends rather than undoing the stays from them. Really sped up the process of reassembly.

 

[Scott B]

Sea_casper,

I forgot one thing. If you can, store your mast with one end high. There have been reports of frost damage to the furling foil if water accumulates and freezes.

or put the open side down?

 

[sea_casper]

Open Side Down of Course

or put the open side down?

We have done that also.

 

[sea_casper]

We removed ends also

Actually Sea_Casper I thought that the B&R was a pretty easy rig to step and unstep. We did a 33 and a 41 this spring and both went well even though there was no one around that had had any experience with them. The one other item that I would suggest is that you mark the turnbuckles before loosening anything. This will speed up the stepping process. Also we did removed the spreader ends rather than undoing the stays from them. Really sped up the process of reassembly.

We also removed the spreader ends to minimize disassembly.

 

[sea_casper]

Too Late

The one other item that I would suggest is that you mark the turnbuckles before loosening anything. This will speed up the stepping process.

Good advice but too late, removed the mast 6 weeks ago, and you assume everything was perfect when removed.