Broken Base on Hunter 18.5

[jimrhome]

After a pleasant and uneventful 90-minute sail on my 20-year-old Hunter 18.5, the mast fell down after the boat was de-rigged and just moored to a buoy. Nobody was on board and there was no wind of consequence.

Does anybody have a theory as to what might have happened?

I'm a rookie sailor and purchased this boat about 6 months ago from a friend. However, I've used it about 8 times this season (on a lake in CT) and am always with an accomplished sailor--a competitive collegiate sailor who is very familiar with boats. The boat is maintained by a marina, who inspected the boat after the problem occurred and said that the base is broken. A photo is attached of the base and of the mast. (Ignore the hole in the deck; the marina is fixing the electrical wiring for the running lights.)

Thanks for your help. I'm hoping to get a replacement base from Hunter, but if anyone knows of another supplier just in case, I'd be grateful. The boat is a 1991 model year, I believe.

 

[Fly_H23]

What broke besides the mast base? I would check each end of ever wire stay. For a mast to fall, either a stay broke or was accidently disconnected. I had a helper unhook a backstay once thinking it was part of the topping lift! Good thing it wasn't the headstay!

 

[jimrhome]

It does not appear that anything other than the base has broken.

 

[rickk31]

I am like fly. If the stays were adjusted right then I would say the base just got tired and broke.

Anything can break in life.It can be a stick,a wish bone or even a heart or even a base on a sailboat. Sounds like it was stressed at one time or metel fatigue set in.

 

[jimrhome]

Thanks!