New use for mast crutch
- Thread starter rgranger
- Start date
The receiving antenna wher attached will be in the way when mast is resting on the pole.
Kermit, did you mean high frogging pole?
Kermit, did you mean high frogging pole?
I also completed the install of my new companionway cover
It has a quick disconnect
Nice, I am thinking of putting solar on the original pole but I fear that the pole holder and base on a hunter 26 isn't secure enough to keep a lot of weight on it under sailing load.
Anyone put a lot of weight on a 26,24, 23.5 with the older style where the bottom of the pole rests directly on the fiberglass transom?
Any reinforcing needed?
Thanks
Anyone put a lot of weight on a 26,24, 23.5 with the older style where the bottom of the pole rests directly on the fiberglass transom?
Any reinforcing needed?
Thanks
Very nicely re-porpoised. I want for solar too, but worry about that lip. Did you reinforce? Maybe tie on a floatie so the diver can find it.
Folks, we need to recognize those who help on this forum and one man who has been a constant is @rgranger and personally want to acknowledge him in helping many. Thank you Rob.
@rgranger
At least on the Hunter 26 like mine, what holds the Mast Crutch in place, a cup on the transom at the bottom and a single metal bracket part way up, don't seem like they would take kindly to a lot of lateral forces from a lot of stuff being mounted to the mast crutch.
Here is a web image i found that shows the crutch support. notice the bracket on this poor boat has come loose
https://whitebearboatworks.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/img_5648.jpg
I would be more worried about my below the water line transom and that built in inverted cup at the bottom cracking over time from the loads when there are heavy wind gusts.
Thanks!
At least on the Hunter 26 like mine, what holds the Mast Crutch in place, a cup on the transom at the bottom and a single metal bracket part way up, don't seem like they would take kindly to a lot of lateral forces from a lot of stuff being mounted to the mast crutch.
Here is a web image i found that shows the crutch support. notice the bracket on this poor boat has come loose
https://whitebearboatworks.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/img_5648.jpg
I would be more worried about my below the water line transom and that built in inverted cup at the bottom cracking over time from the loads when there are heavy wind gusts.
Thanks!
I’m not sure how I even came up with it. A rare, temporary moment of intelligence I suppose.
Seriously? A little wind on a VHF antennae? It is a MAST crutch designed to carry a MAST while bouncing down the highway at 60 mph.
I'm not worried.
Got you
Well mine is only 1' X 1' and is enough to keep the batteries topped off. I also have a generator on my Honda 9.9 so between the two, I don't have any issues. I also don't have a lot of electronics and don't need more than that. It also hangs mostly horizontal so I don't think it catches much wind.
I have my VHF antenna mounted at the same spot on the mast crutch, though not as fancy I never remove it, and it doesn't get in the way when I step the mast. I just direct the mast to the side of it.
Also notice I have an 80 watt solar panel. That I remove when trailering. The weight is not an issue. I concur with Rob, the crutch is designed to hold the weight of the mast going down the road.
I never remove it, and it doesn't get in the way when I step the mast. I just direct the mast to the side of it. Also notice I have an 80 watt solar panel. That I remove when trailering. The weight is not an issue. I concur with Rob, the crutch is designed to hold the weight of the mast going down the road.
Oh, sorry man. The crutch sits on what appears to be a piece of exposed hull, a "lip", and is pinned to a u-shaped bracket on the transom. @JimSails stated his concerns about the strength of those connections under sail. It seemed like a valid question. @Crazy Dave Condon reminds us from time to time how "tender" these water ballast boats can be, so I was suggesting that, should the worst happen, a bright "floaty" might help you, or a diver, find it under water. But I'm sure you're right, the crutch support was designed to hold 1/2 the weight of the mast, while bouncing up and down over potholes and flying around curves on a trailer, for hundreds of miles, every season, for what, 20 years now?
[Edit] The 23.5 and 26 have just a protruding bit of lower hull ("lip") for supporting the mast crutch. The 240 and 260 appear to have an engineered deck for the thing to sit on. Not fair! I'm sticking my IoT 900MHz ISM band telemetry/security dipole antenna at the top of the mast, with my new beer can whirly gig.
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