356 Mast Tubes: Aha Moment?

[Pete Loewenstein]

Having read the recent thread about cracking of gelcoat around the cabin top mounted chainplates, I am thinking that the stainless tubes that run from the chainplates to the mast might not be what I thought they were. I had assumed that they were there to add bracing to the lower section of the mast. But on further consideration, I'm thinking that they may actually provide strength to the chainplate, which is otherwise unsupported beneath the cabin top. It would seem logical that the upward pressure applied by the inner shrouds to the cabin top would be countered to a certain extent by those large stainless tubes connected to the mast. If I'm right about this, I am curious to know if those who have had problems with cracking around the inner shrouds and/or serious leaks around the windows had the stainless tubes installed and properly adjusted.Petes/v Sh'boom H356 #53

 

[Toni]

big boat forum ?

Pete,I think that this discussion was on the big boat forum. You might want to post it there as well.Toni

 

[Jeff Bacon]

Mast Support....

Pete:These are there for mast support. Check out a Hunter with a furling main sail and it will not have the tubes because the mast is beefier to handle the furler, therefore, no tubes are needed. I believe this is addressed in the manual, as well.Jeff

 

[Pete Loewenstein]

Roller Furling Main Has Them, Too...

My 356 (hull #53) has a roller furling main, and it has the mast struts. Hunter originally supplied them only with the standard main and mast, and the 356 manual had a note that the struts were not needed on the roller furling main version. Hunter changed its position on that very early in the production cycle, however, and as far as I know all 356s delivered from about the beginning of January 2002 have been rigged with the struts. I still think they have more to do with supporting the inner chainplates than the mast, however, after looking closely at the mechanics. I'd be willing to wager a beer on it!

 

[Jeff Bacon]

Pete....

...you're right. I saw a 356 today with in mast furling and the struts. However, it seems that the other Hunters adhere to the no strut for in mast furlers, like my 386.Maybe we should revisit this with Hunter to see if struts really might be needed on the in mast furlers.Jeff