1981 H27 mast questions/issues

[SamNelson]

So I bought this fixer upper....
(thus begins the tale, and we've all been here before)
There were a lot of problems, not the least of which was that I was totally unfamiliar how the boat is constructed. I've learned a lot by now....
In addition to termites and leak damage (about 1/2 of the wood replaced now, including the compression post), I wanted to replace the 31 year old sheets, lines and halyards. This is my first exposure to internal lines in the mast.

I attached a new main halyard to the old one, and successfully pulled it through. Not so lucky on the headsail halyard as the splice parted when I hit the pulley on top the mast. Eventually (today) I sent a lightweight guy up the mast in a chair on the new main halyard, and he was totally unable to turn any of the sheaves up there. We tried to drop down a small dacron line, and were unable to get it down the mast. The guy atop said it appeared the inside of the mast head was full of "crap"... (dunno.. wasp nests? bird nests?)

I'm thinking the only thing to do is take the mast off and see what I can find once I can get to the bottom and top of the thing.

I noticed today that the new main halyard was not running as free as it should, it felt to be in a bind when winching him up.
The winches are somewhat hard to turn also, I suppose they need dis-assembly and cleaning.
Is there a drawing available of the components and internal layout of the mast? Hey.. the boom also.. I can't figure out what all those internal lines are for in the boom either.

By the way, I need to haul it out for a bottom job, the marina guy says that averages about $800.00 or so, and that he can pull the mast and place it on the ground for me to work on, and then remount it on the boat for an additional $500.00 or so. I don't know if that is reasonable or not, but I know the running total of this project is beginning to be painful.

I'm an old guy, but a new sailor.. Thanks for any assistance.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Sam

 

[rhythmsurfer]

You won't ever be bored

The mast needs to be pulled and you will have to service the sheaves or replace them. The winches can be really easy to do. I paid someone to do mine the first time and now I know how to it. You may try youtube for learning how to service with the winches. You have ALOT of work ahead of you my friend. Not sure what you have to keep the halyards and wire in the mast from "banging" against the insdie of the mast but make sure you address this once all are replaced.
Tony

 

[David in Sandusky]

Make some friends

Make friends of sailors in the area, and ask their advice on the bottom and pulling the mast in your area.

If a local marina has a mast crane, you may be able to pull the mast for free with the help of a couple of friends.

The prices you quote sound very high! At our marina, pulling the boat and washing the bottom, then putting the boat back in the water would be around $250. Pulling the mast at the same time would be $125.

Our halyards run outside the mast, ('77 model) so I am not the one to help with running lines down inside the mast.

Good luck. You have a great small cruising boat. We have put about 6,000 nm on Lady Lillie.

 

[Mike 1]

Great Boat!

I bought an 82 H27 two years ago. I dropped the mast with very little trouble with three or four people and a mast hoist at the marina. The prices you quoted seem very very high as David said. I pulled the top of the mast off and cleaned it all up. The mast is wide open with the exception of the electrical conduit on the forward side. One thing I didn't do, which I regret and will be doing this winter is an extra halyard and lazy jacks. If you are feeling tension on the line you ran the only thing I can think of is the bundle of electrical connections at the base of the mast. Mine were a know of junk. I redid all of the mast wires and left them long and as I stepped the mast I pulled them through into the head and put a terminal block so they are protected and accessible. I will be up at the boat later this week ( I hope! ) i will snap a pic or two if you like.

Mike

 

[SeaWing]

There are 4 halyard positions on the H27. Two front and two back. My mast directs them out of the mast on sheaves that direct the lines back to the cockpit. I believe that was standard. The cost is too high. I had a marina lift my mast and they lightly connected the shrouds for me. It took me another day to tune the mast and get the roller furler working again. Putting the boat into the water was $7.50 per foot for the launch using the travel lift to take it off the trailer, cost of raising the mast was $3.75 per foot, and another $75 for an hour labor while hooking up the wiring. I have lazy jacks and roller furler so I really only use 2 halyards. One for the main halyard and the other for a topping lift. I forgot to put the flag halyard up on the little block on the spreader when we raised the mast. Will have to do that when we move the boat the next time. It is easy to remove the cap from the top when the mast is down. The mast is entirely hollow. The lines inside the mast are not noisy, but a halyard should be slung around the outside of the spreader to stop it from clanging in the wind. Anyone who spends a night in a marina will tell you that! Just joined the group after reading for a long time. Look forward to hearing from more owners of the H27. So far, it is a great boat.

 

[Bigjer40]

Congrat's on the H27! I bought my 84 H27 last may. Curious about how your wiring looked??? Was it original???

 

[SamNelson]

The wiring seems fine. Some added to support a marine AC that is installed under the quarter berth. And it's WORKING now!

Pulling the mast off gave me an opportunity to replace the wiring that runs up into it, just because I had the opportunity. The wiring I replaced looked quite usable.

Some of the wiring that runs thru the bilge just aft of the compression post bothered me, but I decided it will last longer than I will.

Congrat's on the H27! I bought my 84 H27 last may. Curious about how your wiring looked??? Was it original???