Has anyone figured out a way to raise and lower the mast on the 216 without detaching the shrouds? Local Hunter dealer doesn't know because they are primarily a big boat dealer. Considering getting one if mast raising/lowering can be done quickly and relatively painlessly. Thanks
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216 quick mast raising
Bill: I have covered this before but it somehow has not hit the archives as yet. To start, get the mast raised and the shroud tension adjusted and the turnbuckles locked in with hitch pins or whatever. I have my hitch pins and the turnbuckles taped with rigging tape. I also use Ball Lock Quick Release pins for the shrouds and the furler. Once the turnbuckles are locked in, raising the mast is simple. 1. Bungee all the lines/shrouds to the lower part of the mast before raising so the junk doesn't snag while raising the mast. 1. Attach the jib and step the mast with the mast still resting on the aft mast rest. Raise the mast and insert the mast pin on the top of the cuddy. I usually have someone else around and I have a line with a cheap "quick connect" at the end I can snap onto the bottom of the jib where it attaches to the furler. The helper runs the line to the front of my truck and helps lift the mast. 3. Release the lines/shrouds from the bungee. 4. Pull the mast pin and tilt the mast back a little bit. Attach the shrouds. Push the mast forward and re-insert the mast pin and insert the mast wedge. If I do not have a helper, I simply tie off the jib to the fore mast rest while I do this. 5. Get a short piece of line with two loops on the ends, one larger and one smaller. You have to fiddle at first to get the right length of line and the right size loops. I simply carry my line with loops in my setup kit. Tie a Prussic knot to the jib with the larger loop. Place your foot in the other loop and step down to tension the jib/fore stay enough to insert the pin. Viola. The mast is up and done. It takes me 2-4 minutes to step my mast. With my racing crew around I can set up the boat in 15-20 minutes ready to splash without breaking a sweat. I belong to a dinghy club and my boat is usually the first one set up. I thought and researched long and hard to develop this technique. It works slicker than snot on a doorknob.
Bill: I have covered this before but it somehow has not hit the archives as yet. To start, get the mast raised and the shroud tension adjusted and the turnbuckles locked in with hitch pins or whatever. I have my hitch pins and the turnbuckles taped with rigging tape. I also use Ball Lock Quick Release pins for the shrouds and the furler. Once the turnbuckles are locked in, raising the mast is simple. 1. Bungee all the lines/shrouds to the lower part of the mast before raising so the junk doesn't snag while raising the mast. 1. Attach the jib and step the mast with the mast still resting on the aft mast rest. Raise the mast and insert the mast pin on the top of the cuddy. I usually have someone else around and I have a line with a cheap "quick connect" at the end I can snap onto the bottom of the jib where it attaches to the furler. The helper runs the line to the front of my truck and helps lift the mast. 3. Release the lines/shrouds from the bungee. 4. Pull the mast pin and tilt the mast back a little bit. Attach the shrouds. Push the mast forward and re-insert the mast pin and insert the mast wedge. If I do not have a helper, I simply tie off the jib to the fore mast rest while I do this. 5. Get a short piece of line with two loops on the ends, one larger and one smaller. You have to fiddle at first to get the right length of line and the right size loops. I simply carry my line with loops in my setup kit. Tie a Prussic knot to the jib with the larger loop. Place your foot in the other loop and step down to tension the jib/fore stay enough to insert the pin. Viola. The mast is up and done. It takes me 2-4 minutes to step my mast. With my racing crew around I can set up the boat in 15-20 minutes ready to splash without breaking a sweat. I belong to a dinghy club and my boat is usually the first one set up. I thought and researched long and hard to develop this technique. It works slicker than snot on a doorknob.
216 Mast Raising Continued
Bill - I guess I need to clarify. Due to the geometry it is not possible to raise the H-216 mast with the shrouds attached. With the Quick Release pins and my mast raising technique though, it is simple to get the mast up quickly. Actually I prefer detaching the shrouds as things are neater while trailering and while messing with the boat while on the trailer. As per my prior posts, I use the red loop bungees with a black plastic ball you can get at Wal-Mart to tidy up all the lines/shrouds.
Bill - I guess I need to clarify. Due to the geometry it is not possible to raise the H-216 mast with the shrouds attached. With the Quick Release pins and my mast raising technique though, it is simple to get the mast up quickly. Actually I prefer detaching the shrouds as things are neater while trailering and while messing with the boat while on the trailer. As per my prior posts, I use the red loop bungees with a black plastic ball you can get at Wal-Mart to tidy up all the lines/shrouds.
my solution
See attached photo for option with keeping shrouds attached.
This solution (see photo) limits where you can drive and how fast you can go.... I was practicing raising the mast single-handed. The only thing I couldn't do myself was pin the jib. I got my 8 year old son to pin it while I pulled on the mainsail halyard to bend the mast forward a bit. I'll have to try Paul's idea on tying a line to the gib and use my foot to pull the gib so I can insert the pin single handed.
See attached photo for option with keeping shrouds attached.
This solution (see photo) limits where you can drive and how fast you can go.... I was practicing raising the mast single-handed. The only thing I couldn't do myself was pin the jib. I got my 8 year old son to pin it while I pulled on the mainsail halyard to bend the mast forward a bit. I'll have to try Paul's idea on tying a line to the gib and use my foot to pull the gib so I can insert the pin single handed.- Status