Broken mast base casting /or vang connections

[Ersin Gokcen]

As many same experiences written on Forum Archives earlier;It happened to me on mine H340, last month also.ALTOUGH WITH SECOND REEF,IN 15-18 KN.CALM SEAS,TRYINGAN EEEEEEASY GYBE,OOOOP...THE CASTING ON THE MAST PLATE ATTACHING TO VANG,.... BROKEN.(?)When I reported to Hunter Co.by my dealer,they passed it to Z.Spars.And the answer,signed by Julian Crispsays,they don't have NO OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS MAST BASE PROBLEM.(?)Both of them (Hunter and Z.Spars)think that it's a users fault,altough they can see easly at least 6-7same incidents reported on HOW Forum only.I haven't heard same problem with other boats but Hunters,due to huge main needs STRONGER HARDWARE NOT THE REGULARS that same size boats has.What is your owner's opinion on that subject?Does any other has the similiar problem?Thank you all...

 

[Alex]

I have..on my mast base..

..on my 1995 H-29.5 .The mast plate , which is some cast aluminum metal , actually desintegrated gradually ,first starting with cracks , and was replaced -at Hunter cost-.Although it was finally changed after more than a year anew , it was covered by Hunter since cracks in it has been reported earlier.Technically , it is eassy to explain ( and surprising Hunter didn't figure it out , prior manufacturing , in design stage..); this aluminum cast mast base sits on a S.S. flat base on deck , and fastenet to it by S.S. screws..This 'unity' of disimilar metals in Marine enviroment (especially salt water)is prone to problems , and it is mostly ' not to be done' on boats.After replacing the unit , this time they put some intermediate flat plastic-like spacer , and it seem to work..deleying the next replacement time.. ; however due to downward vertical pressure ( probably more so on a B&R rig ), an year later ,cracks appeared in that spacer layer..which looks now paqrtly crushed..In rigs , the metal used in conections to aluminum in most boats , is Monel ( that black metal). I know it happend to other Hunters as well with same S.S. deck plate; I don't think it is Z-spar fault , since it is a matter of connectiong and integrating the rig to boat , not the rig itself.When it happened , I looked at other brand of boats for this occurance , but none I checked , put S.S. plate and Aluminum mast on top..I hope Hunter found an alternate procedure in newer boats by now..

 

[TOM MANALILI]

Drill 6" above bottom end of mast, BUT

But use a compression sleeve, same I.D. as thru bolt's O.D. so as to not to apply pressure on mast, the sleeve fitd horriz. on the bolt, in the mast, w/ the bail ears on the outside of the mast