Re: A H-33.5 (1990), has anyone added an access panel to the mast at the mast base to get at the wire connections for mast lights and wind instruments? If so, how and with what panel cover? Would appreciate your inputs. We had the mast down for the winter and re-stepped it. It seems that some wire connections came loose. We don't have any wind instrument data (S or D). Regards, Dick Carey S/V Puffin 1990 H-33.5
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Bob England
Hole saw and Plastic plug
I drilled a hole using a conventional hole saw, large enough to get a couple of fingers in to get at the wiring and mast bottom sheaves, with an ordinary hole saw. I think it was about a 1-3/4". The hole is covered by a white plastic snap-in plug, the kind that is used in the overhead inside boats, that I got at a local marine store. My motivation was one year when after stepping the mast I realized I had the main halyard coming out the wrong side sheave box. Before doing this, I consulted with a structural engineer at work, and he assured me that there is very little bending force at the bottom of the mast. The force at the bottom is almost pure compression, and any reasonable sized hole will have no effect on the integrity of the mast. One thing to watch out for is to not drill into the sheave boxes. They project inside the mast a fair way. My mast is an Isomat (on 1989 H30), and by drilling in the center of the flat area on the starboard side, I missed the sheave box by a safe margin.
I drilled a hole using a conventional hole saw, large enough to get a couple of fingers in to get at the wiring and mast bottom sheaves, with an ordinary hole saw. I think it was about a 1-3/4". The hole is covered by a white plastic snap-in plug, the kind that is used in the overhead inside boats, that I got at a local marine store. My motivation was one year when after stepping the mast I realized I had the main halyard coming out the wrong side sheave box. Before doing this, I consulted with a structural engineer at work, and he assured me that there is very little bending force at the bottom of the mast. The force at the bottom is almost pure compression, and any reasonable sized hole will have no effect on the integrity of the mast. One thing to watch out for is to not drill into the sheave boxes. They project inside the mast a fair way. My mast is an Isomat (on 1989 H30), and by drilling in the center of the flat area on the starboard side, I missed the sheave box by a safe margin.
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Tim Leighton
BE VERY CAREFUL
Dick: I would be VERY reluctant to cut any holes in my mast for fear of reducing its strength. I'm not an engineer (but have a good friend who is and will ask him), but when you look at your Isomat mast you'll notice that wherever you see a "hole" (sheeves) the area is heavily reinforced. Unless you are able to do the same, I'd pass. Last time I stepped my mast I added a foot or so of cable length to all mast runs and fit them at the bottom of the mast where I could obtain access by removing the halyard sheaves. Good luck! Tim L. (S/V "TIDE")
Dick: I would be VERY reluctant to cut any holes in my mast for fear of reducing its strength. I'm not an engineer (but have a good friend who is and will ask him), but when you look at your Isomat mast you'll notice that wherever you see a "hole" (sheeves) the area is heavily reinforced. Unless you are able to do the same, I'd pass. Last time I stepped my mast I added a foot or so of cable length to all mast runs and fit them at the bottom of the mast where I could obtain access by removing the halyard sheaves. Good luck! Tim L. (S/V "TIDE")
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Dick Carey
Thanks Tim & Bob for your inputs and cautions.
Thanks Tim & Bob for your inputs and cautions. I certainly don't want to significantly reduce the mast strength at the base area, so the reason for the initial question. Thanks again. Dick Carey S/V Puffin
Thanks Tim & Bob for your inputs and cautions. I certainly don't want to significantly reduce the mast strength at the base area, so the reason for the initial question. Thanks again. Dick Carey S/V Puffin
Our H'31 has access port in mast.
Our 1985 H'31 has an access port in the bottom of the mast. It was there when we purchased the boat (new). I believe that this is something that a shop could do for you without weaking the structure. I do not think that I'd just cut a hole and hope that the mast does not collapse.
Our 1985 H'31 has an access port in the bottom of the mast. It was there when we purchased the boat (new). I believe that this is something that a shop could do for you without weaking the structure. I do not think that I'd just cut a hole and hope that the mast does not collapse.
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Steve O.
agree with Tim
I wouldn't put any more holes in the mast than are absolutely neccessary, especially one that large.
I wouldn't put any more holes in the mast than are absolutely neccessary, especially one that large.
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Dick Carey
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Douglas
In mast wiring
I had a similar problem - no mast last or steaming light. I removed the sheaves from the port sheave box. Cut the divider out of the box (I have no halyards on that side and figure I could used aluminum weld putty if I needed to "reinsatll" at a later date since the divider doesn't take any load) I could then get into the mast and to the connector. I had asked many people what to do and all said to lower the mast. That was not an option for me. By the way, my boat is a 1989 H30 -Doug s/v BRENDA GAIL
I had a similar problem - no mast last or steaming light. I removed the sheaves from the port sheave box. Cut the divider out of the box (I have no halyards on that side and figure I could used aluminum weld putty if I needed to "reinsatll" at a later date since the divider doesn't take any load) I could then get into the mast and to the connector. I had asked many people what to do and all said to lower the mast. That was not an option for me. By the way, my boat is a 1989 H30 -Doug s/v BRENDA GAIL
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