1984 34' Hunter Broken Mast

Status
Not open for further replies.
Feb 26, 2013
8
Hunter 34 Bayville
OK, so I got myself in way deep here, I couldn't resist buying a Sandy survivor with a broken mast. I figured I wouldn't have too hard a time finding a suitable replacement. I'm finding out it's not that easy. I'm wondering if a slightly different mast configuration would work with some minor modifications. Any suggestions as to where to start?

Thanks.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,218
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
If you have the old mast and it is broken in only one place and otherwise in pretty good shape, you can get a sleeve that can be used to splice the spar back together.. It is an exacting repair, so not very cheap, but done correctly, it is good..
These guys might be able to help:
https://www.dwyermast.com/default.asp
 

BobM

.
Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
It depends. Do you have sails or do you need sails? If you have the sails, then keep in mind that you may need to modify the sails also.
 

BobM

.
Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
Here you go!

Includes sails, which is great. A bit short though. From what I found the H34 mast was 47 feet. This one is 37 feet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/37-Aluminum..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item1e77c16440&vxp=mtr

“Needs new halyards, all other parts are in good condition. This mast came off a 34' boat that never saw salt water. the mast base is a ng-51. the mast itself is an Isomat mast and boom. the boom is approx. 11.5' and is outfitted for jiffy reefing. The sails were used very little. Includes main sheet and jib sheets”

I suggest you contact a knowledgeable local rigger for help. A big issue is that the H34 has a B&R rig with swept back spreaders and no back stay. This mastm may need to be converted to same.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,218
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Definitely contact a rigger.. That model 34 does have a backstay, but the mast is designed to have a lot of bend in it and it has a very complex set of stays..
Yup.. post some pictures of what ya dealing with..
 
Nov 5, 2012
37
Catalina 36 Mumbai
Try and find a hunter '34 mast even if it is very old. It can be repaired and used again. Do not go for any other mast as it may damage your hull when you apply tension.
 
Feb 26, 2013
8
Hunter 34 Bayville
Thanks for all the replys, I'll try & get some pix up. The mast broke about mid way, in two places with a 3 foot section midway. I'm currently looking into sleeving it. It does have a split backstay. I saw a double diamond rig that I thought I might be able to use with some minor modification. Was only able to find two spreaders for one side, most of the rigging is gone as well.
Will post more as I get a better handle on ti.
Thanks, Kev
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,536
-na -NA Anywhere USA
When the integrity of a mast has been jeoparidized, the best and safe way is to replace the mast. It has been suggested to insert a sleeve. Selden Mast company does that with the larger masts sometimes sleeving them; however, the inner sleeve is designed to specifically fit the inside of the mast extrusion which is safe and stong. The key to sleeving a repaired mast is the inner sleeve has to fit exaclltly the inside diameter of the damaged mast; otherwise, any sleeve will not work and cause failure at the rrepaired section causing the mast to collapse under load. I beleive the mast of that 34 was a Z Spar and that being the case, parts and masts can be obtained from U S Spars in Gainesville. Remember when replacing any mast, I would suggest going back to the same mast design with spreaders and you will probably have to take care of changing the rigging or whatever.

crazy dave condon
 
Feb 26, 2013
8
Hunter 34 Bayville
The broken mast is a Kenyon 4873 from what I've been able to find. (there is a Kenyon label on it and from measurements I took, that's what I believe it to be. I was looking at a z spar double diamond rig about the same length, and figured I could adjust length of standing rigging. The only question I had about that is that the anchor points for side stays would be about two feet aft of where the tabernackle sits on the deck.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,218
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
On my '85 model, the label on my mast says Kenyon BF 5386.

EDIT; Looking at the Kenyon information, The numbers mean the athwartship measurement and the fore/aft measurement.. so a 5386 is 5.30 inches across, and 8.60 inches fore and aft.
 
Last edited:
Feb 26, 2013
8
Hunter 34 Bayville
On my '85 model, the label on my mast says Kenyon BF 5386.

EDIT; Looking at the Kenyon information, The numbers mean the athwartship measurement and the fore/aft measurement.. so a 5386 is 5.30 inches across, and 8.60 inches fore and aft.
I'm guessing your boat is full depth keel, which again, I'm guessing that allows for a taller mast w/ a larger "footprint". Mine's a shoal draft and it is a Kenyon 4873; 4.8 wide X 7.3 fore/aft. Height is as close as I can measure the broken pieces 46' tall.

From some feedback I've recieved, it would seem that there may be several variations of how this model was built. from year to year; ie: Z spar v/s Kenyon, differing info on mast height, and now differing "footprint" . I might have some options after all ! I recall reading that the Hunter 34' was first produced in 83, and stayed basically the same untill 86. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I would have thought the production run would have been longer.
 
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Captain Coconut...

No one has pointed out that there are two different masts for this boat. The early boats built in '83 had a large deck-step casting carrying the turning block sheaves that the mast sits on.

Later boats ('84 on) had a mast with the turning blocks build into its base that sits directly on the deck.

See pix: The first two are my '83's mast base and builder's plate. The third is Claude A's mast base with his access port. This is probably the mast on your boat and the one you would need to find for a direct replacement so that the shrouds and stays would match up.
 

Attachments

Feb 26, 2013
8
Hunter 34 Bayville
No one has pointed out that there are two different masts for this boat. The early boats built in '83 had a large deck-step casting carrying the turning block sheaves that the mast sits on.

Later boats ('84 on) had a mast with the turning blocks build into its base that sits directly on the deck.

See pix: The first two are my '83's mast base and builder's plate. The third is Claude A's mast base with his access port. This is probably the mast on your boat and the one you would need to find for a direct replacement so that the shrouds and stays would match up.
You are correct, the existing (broken) mast has the sheave blocks at the base. I found a possible candidate: it's a Z-spar 601, double diamond configuration 45' w/ boom & standing rigging, and tabernackle. I'm thinking it might work as it's only 1 foot shorter, and the double diamond rig allows the side stays to run from the masthead. the connection point is mabey two feet aft of the deck mount point. I know I'll need to make (or if possible) modify the length of rigging. I'm OK with doing that kind of mod, as long as it seems reasonable in the eyes of those in the know. So... does this sound like a possibility?

Thanks, Kev
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,218
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Kev, it looks like the mast section is about correct so that part is probably fine.. The spreader tips must be exactly over the chainplates, so you may have to get the length and sweep angle of the spreaders changed.. There are some rigging diagrams for the 34 on this site in the "Boat Info" "Downloads/general info" tabs.. Looks do-able, but do consult a rigger..
 

RichH

.
Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Center span fractures on spars are 'most difficult' to repair correctly as its the center of span that bears the 'most' stress.
With the immense amount of destroyed boats on the NJ/NY coast, I'd contact the major insurance carriers, salvage yards, etc. to find an 'intact' mast from a 'broken' boat, looking especially for a mast from a destroyed H34. There's a lot of 'parting out' going on in the NYC area with all the 'broken' boats - Staten Island was especially 'whacked'.
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,536
-na -NA Anywhere USA
If the mast is Kenyon, they formed with Isomat and became Kenyon Isomat. The that company was bought out in the 90's by Z Spar and that was fiasco. Anyway, there is a company called Charleston Spar and the sales manager is Jim Cullibert. They are located in Charlotte, NC. Kenyon Isomat was in the same building as Charleston Spar with the same personell and sales manager, Jim Culibert. If you need parts for any Kenyon or kenyon isomat, call charleston Spar. I hope this helps you as Jim knows what you will need.

crazy dave condon
 
Status
Not open for further replies.