I purchased a 1997 340 hunter this past summer. The other day I noticed that the threaded rod on the top of the starboard side mast strut has bent. Anyone know what happened? Should these struts be tight or just loose when not under sail? When stepping the mast, at what point do you attach the struts-before tensioning the shrouds? Any help would be great.
Bent mast strut
- Thread starter kcbarnes
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If your strut is same as mine, then answers to your questions are:
1. your riggings could have been subjected to a force/high load to cause strut stud to bent.
2. strut mustn't be tight.
3. its to be mounted after the rig is tuned.
4. its meant to supplement supporting the mast when boat is heeling (sailing).
5. if rigging is too loose, the large movement of mast will snap the strut stud or mounting bolts. Been there, done that.
1. your riggings could have been subjected to a force/high load to cause strut stud to bent.
2. strut mustn't be tight.
3. its to be mounted after the rig is tuned.
4. its meant to supplement supporting the mast when boat is heeling (sailing).
5. if rigging is too loose, the large movement of mast will snap the strut stud or mounting bolts. Been there, done that.
Mine bent too. I ordered new ones from Hunter. I'm unaware of when they bent or even if it was while I owned the boat.
After installing the new ones it became clear to me that there isn't very much tuning that can be done. The clevis pins will only go through the eyes at a certain position - with very little force , tension, compression or shear. It isn't possible to tighten the struts from the other end, so far as I can tell without some means of bending the mast down low.
After installing the new ones it became clear to me that there isn't very much tuning that can be done. The clevis pins will only go through the eyes at a certain position - with very little force , tension, compression or shear. It isn't possible to tighten the struts from the other end, so far as I can tell without some means of bending the mast down low.
Our 99 H340 struts acquired a bend in the lower middle for reasons unknown, although not on the threaded adjustable upper end attachment. I pulled the worse one off (it was bent over an inch out of column) and took to a local machine shop with a tube bender. They got it straight but with tiny dents in many places up and down the strut. However the straightening only cost $60, I believe a replacement strut from Hunter would be over $200 (shemandr - comment?).
Per the rigging instructions, I adjusted them just snug, but not tight. So far the other one has not bent more, nor has the straightened one re-bent. If the threaded rod end attachment itself is bent, you should be able to just replace that part.
Per the rigging instructions, I adjusted them just snug, but not tight. So far the other one has not bent more, nor has the straightened one re-bent. If the threaded rod end attachment itself is bent, you should be able to just replace that part.
Bent strut
Thanks everyone. This is the first time I've tried the forum and I received an immediate response. Impressive.
Thanks everyone. This is the first time I've tried the forum and I received an immediate response. Impressive.
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