This summer I purchase my first sailboat; a 1984 Hunter 34. While in the process of documenting all the work I need to complete I noticed that none of the lights on my mast work (Anchor, steaming or spreaders). Does anyone have suggestions for some steps I can take to begin fixing this problem without climbing the mast? FYI... The previous owner had replaced the compression post with a stainless steel support. PS. My boat was just put on stands yesterday. Can you climb the mast when it's on stands?
Avoid a trip up my mast...
- Thread starter mamkt001
- Start date
- Status
I my opinion...
I think it is unlikely that all of your mast lights are burnt out or are corroded in the sockets. I would look for a common ground connection to the lights or a bad common fuse or breaker in the control panel. Do you have a wiring diagram of your boat? If not, contact Hunter and see if they can send you one. Underneath the gray ceiling panel by the compression post should be all of the mast light connections. Given a wiring diagram you could determine if power is getting to the proper wires. After disconnecting the wires you could measure the resistance of each circuit up the mast to determine if there is a good bulb and the circuit is complete. Lastly, I would not go up the mast while on the hard. And I suspect that your marina wouldn't like it either.
I think it is unlikely that all of your mast lights are burnt out or are corroded in the sockets. I would look for a common ground connection to the lights or a bad common fuse or breaker in the control panel. Do you have a wiring diagram of your boat? If not, contact Hunter and see if they can send you one. Underneath the gray ceiling panel by the compression post should be all of the mast light connections. Given a wiring diagram you could determine if power is getting to the proper wires. After disconnecting the wires you could measure the resistance of each circuit up the mast to determine if there is a good bulb and the circuit is complete. Lastly, I would not go up the mast while on the hard. And I suspect that your marina wouldn't like it either.
Mast cabling
The wiring for the mast comes down a track at the back of the mast and at the bottom of the mast the cables go inside the mast and through the deck to the compression post. Sealant is put round the cables to stop the water ingress into the boat. It relies on the sealant being done well and often it wasn't leading to water damage to the compression post. The track at the back of the mast has a sliding aluminium cover and if you remove the plate the boom vang attaches to you should be able to get access to these cables at the bottom of the mast. You may need to shorten the cover. I used a dremel. You can then test them to see if the lights are operational using temporary wiring. If you do need to replace the connections through the deck you can fit a cable gland in front of the mast and take the cables through the deck.
The wiring for the mast comes down a track at the back of the mast and at the bottom of the mast the cables go inside the mast and through the deck to the compression post. Sealant is put round the cables to stop the water ingress into the boat. It relies on the sealant being done well and often it wasn't leading to water damage to the compression post. The track at the back of the mast has a sliding aluminium cover and if you remove the plate the boom vang attaches to you should be able to get access to these cables at the bottom of the mast. You may need to shorten the cover. I used a dremel. You can then test them to see if the lights are operational using temporary wiring. If you do need to replace the connections through the deck you can fit a cable gland in front of the mast and take the cables through the deck.
This may sound like a stupid question, but,
why would you not want to go up the mast when it's on the hard, assuming you take all the precautions of an extra line to your bosun's chair etc., etc., I would think, the boat is more stable, nop waves washing it about, but I have a good feeling I'm about to get educated. Thanks in advance. George
why would you not want to go up the mast when it's on the hard, assuming you take all the precautions of an extra line to your bosun's chair etc., etc., I would think, the boat is more stable, nop waves washing it about, but I have a good feeling I'm about to get educated. Thanks in advance. George
No reason really except
If the guys that put the stands up didn't get it right you might be in for a very exciting day. In the water there is NO chance of the boat falling over. On the hard, well lets just say I'd be checking the stands and going REAL slow on the way up on a calm day with a third person watching the stands.
If the guys that put the stands up didn't get it right you might be in for a very exciting day. In the water there is NO chance of the boat falling over. On the hard, well lets just say I'd be checking the stands and going REAL slow on the way up on a calm day with a third person watching the stands.
AND,,,,
lines tied to adjoining IMMOVABLE objects. George, on the hard you lose the only thing keeping the boat stable; keel righting.
lines tied to adjoining IMMOVABLE objects. George, on the hard you lose the only thing keeping the boat stable; keel righting.
My boat being on a cradle should be somewaht more
stable than stands I would imagine. Your right about stands tho', I wouldn't consider it with those. What's you thoughts on cradles?? Thanks again. George
stable than stands I would imagine. Your right about stands tho', I wouldn't consider it with those. What's you thoughts on cradles?? Thanks again. George
George
If the boat is in a cradle you should be fine. If you are on stands and the boat is set properly and the stands are properly chained you should be fine. What the guys are suggesting is erroring on the side of caution. It only takes one mistake to cause a world of problems. I've seen guys go up on the hard many times with no worries. Every once in a while you will hear about a drop. Question is, do you want to be that one?
If the boat is in a cradle you should be fine. If you are on stands and the boat is set properly and the stands are properly chained you should be fine. What the guys are suggesting is erroring on the side of caution. It only takes one mistake to cause a world of problems. I've seen guys go up on the hard many times with no worries. Every once in a while you will hear about a drop. Question is, do you want to be that one?
I can wait...
...to climb the mast until next season. I'll check the connections and circuits I can and if no solution is found I guess I'll be climbing. Thanks for all your help and advice.
...to climb the mast until next season. I'll check the connections and circuits I can and if no solution is found I guess I'll be climbing. Thanks for all your help and advice.
- Status