Looking at purchase of a 1994 Hunter 40.5. Main drawback is the mast height. Need to shorten to 57' for Kentucky Lake bridge if I want to travel south.
40.5 Mast height
- Thread starter Jim5717
- Start date
Someday You Will Want To Sell
There will be buyers including me that wouldn't look at it with a shortened mast....something to think about
There will be buyers including me that wouldn't look at it with a shortened mast....something to think about
You have a point, In my area however, a shortened mast is a very good selling point. My cruising range would go from 20 to 150 miles.
The PO of our 376 changed the mast to masthead from fractional. Marty at lighthouse landing did it . When I bought it performance was weak but the sails were blown out. I recently bought new sails with a deep roach, easily recovering all the lost sail area. Performance is excellent, handling is improved, and the shorter mast lets me go places others can't.
This particular mod will likely scare off many buyers but other mods (3 blade props, enclosures, in mast furlong) have a much bigger negative effect on performance. I won't be afraid of buying another boat with a clipped mast, and will likely get a nice discount.
Used to dock at GTB.
Used to dock at GTB.
tip the boat. Lister bag (google it) hung from the main halyard will heel the boat enough to get under the bridge, and you will be the talk of the town.
after filling the lister bag with water by throwing it over the side haul it up with the halyard. Since it is now really heavy it will heel the boat before it comes out of the water.
The math says you need 28 degrees of heel minimum
after filling the lister bag with water by throwing it over the side haul it up with the halyard. Since it is now really heavy it will heel the boat before it comes out of the water.
The math says you need 28 degrees of heel minimum
OK Bill, I have seen pictures of that done.
But has anyone actually calculated the load on the rig for tension? I think there would be similar loads if the boat was heeled that far under sail, but 28 degrees is way beyond conditions in which I sail. Woe be to you if anything fails during this procedure.At 28 degrees do you think the 40.5 would ship water over the cockpit and dampen things below?
I repeat- find a different sailboat.
What height did you lower the mast to? The boat is at Lighthouse Landing and I have the option to keep it there, hence wanting to pass under the Eggners Ferry bridge and possibly travel south. A lot of the time when I had my 34 on Ky Lake I wound up having to reef. Did you take your boat from GTB to your current dock? Would like to spend the winter making such a trip.
Well Rich, there is a guy that did not pay as much attention to the weather as he should and I have it on good authority that the 40.5 can be heeled over to at least 55-60 degrees without the water coming in.
think microburst from thunderstorm hitting broadside with full sails up.
I would note that the same halyard that held the sail up then would also be holding up the lister bag. My only concern would be the out of line load on the mast head sheave.
think microburst from thunderstorm hitting broadside with full sails up.
I would note that the same halyard that held the sail up then would also be holding up the lister bag. My only concern would be the out of line load on the mast head sheave.
The load on the halyard would be the weight of a listerbag full of water. 50 gallons * 7.4 lb/gal = 370 lb pretty sure that is well within the masts capabilities
The easiest mast cut I s at the existing jib spinnaker attachment. In my case 55 foot. As I said boat performs well. Won club regatta last month.
As far as heeling boat over Yanmar says 15 degrees is max while operating. I have a bag but have not used it yet. Tenn Tom requires a 15 deg heel at several bridges and I am going to try it.
As far as heeling boat over Yanmar says 15 degrees is max while operating. I have a bag but have not used it yet. Tenn Tom requires a 15 deg heel at several bridges and I am going to try it.
Talked with Marty and the new bridge will be 65'. With a 62'9" mast height it would be close but doable. Maybe I list a little. Thanks for all the input fellas.
Having owned a 40.5 ......
I had a custom -made Genoa built, which went right down to the deck.
I really don't like the standard sails which cut up and lose a lot of sail area.
The advantage of the fractional rog and larger Genoa is that the drive was kept lower to the deck, and got a ton more power without heeling as much.
The boat woukd easily broad reach at 10 knots with this sail configuration, and upwind 8.5 - 9 knots all day long.
The best thing about the boat is the mast height & fractional rig.
I had a custom -made Genoa built, which went right down to the deck.
I really don't like the standard sails which cut up and lose a lot of sail area.
The advantage of the fractional rog and larger Genoa is that the drive was kept lower to the deck, and got a ton more power without heeling as much.
The boat woukd easily broad reach at 10 knots with this sail configuration, and upwind 8.5 - 9 knots all day long.