Broken Isolated mast foot on a Hunter 26

isaksp00 · Feb 3, 2019

The store here on this site may have it or try RigRite. I wonder if a weld shop could fix it?

caverun · Feb 3, 2019

I think that foot is for a Sparcraft mast, but not common- I think your part is available at RigRite, scroll to bottom of this page: part number FM-67-3B
http://www.rigrite.com/Spars/Sparcraft_Spars/FM_Masts/FM-0067_mast.php

rgranger · Feb 4, 2019

Actually I know first hand that the store on this site has it. I broke mine three summers ago and they had a new foot out in less than a week. Here is the one I broke. YOu can see the "ears" broke off.

isaksp00 · Feb 4, 2019

You may want to use 4 or 5 aluminum pop rivets to attach the extrusion to the new foot. They seem to hold properly for the forces involved in stepping or removing the mast, for my 23 at least. And if you manage to sway the mast sideways the rivets are likely to sacrifice, avoiding damage to the mast or foot. I have had that happen and the rivets broke and only did minor damage to the mast extrusion that was easy to bend back.

rgranger · Feb 4, 2019

AaronSteven said:
I also plan to run a line on both sides of the mast to keep it from swaying sideways when stepping or removing the mast.
thanks

Whoa! That might be the issue. The H26 came with "baby stays" that are used when stepping the mast. When I broke my mast foot, I also bent the gin pole and bent the connector of

ne of the baby stays so I have experience making new ones (if you need it).

caverun · Feb 4, 2019

Hunter has a treasure-trove of old documents on a server- have a look at this link:
https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/export/Model-Information/26_1993_1997/

The file is "26 rigging specs.pdf". Size and fittings are listed- mast bridle wires
If you don't have a local source to make them up, I have used Seco South in Tampa. They made the original standing rigging.

rgranger · Feb 5, 2019

AaronSteven said:
My gin pole is fine but when I bought the boat used, it didn't come with baby stays to keep the mast from swaying sideways when stepping or removing the mast. If you have advice on how to build baby stays that would be great.

On my mast, there are small holes that the baby stays "clip" into. The end of the stay has a hook (see picture in previous post). I used stainless steel cable from Tractor Supply, along SS wire nuts to secure the hook on the mast end. The other end of the baby stay connects to a metal loop at the base of the mid-ship stanchions. I secured them using a SS bail and SS wire nuts to create a loop at the end of the stay and then simply shackled the stay to the stanchion base. The hardest part will be getting the length correct. If you already have the mast in the up position, you can attach the baby stays and leave a little slack in them (not much). That should give you the correct length.

I used to have a balboa 26 that used a similar mast raising system. On that boat, I made "baby stays" out of nylon ratchet tie-down straps. It worked very well and had the added advantage that it was very easy to readjust the length if I got it wrong.