creaking sound from mast

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Matt

My mast has been creaking under heavy winds the past few seasons. We have a 1992 Hunter 33.5. The sound is very annoying when in the cabin. If the boom vang is tight it is worse. We are not required to drop our mast for winter storage and have not adjusted the back stays or shrouds since buying the boiat 5 years ago. The sound was not there the first few seasons but has gotten worse the past three years. I sense I may need to or have someone calibrate the shrouds and what not but was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience?
 
May 24, 2004
7,164
CC 30 South Florida
Boats make noises and older boats make

louder noises. You have not tuned the rig in the 5 years you have had the boat and you have no idea if the PO ever did. I would think it's overdue.
 
M

Matt

Thanks Benny..you reassured what I expected. The previous owner bought the boat new and it has always been in our marina so I have no idea when that last time the rigging was adjusted. The boat points well. I know a guy on another dock in our marina that has a gauge. He is kind of a handy man for hire for other boat owners so I will ask him to tune us up and see if it helps
 
Jun 4, 2004
255
Hunter 376 Annapolis MD
grease

Good chance your gooseneck needs grease. Take bolt out and grease all bearing surfaces and body of bolt with high pressure bearing grease from the auto store, sparingly. allan
 
Jun 4, 2004
125
Hunter 333 Elk Rapids, MI
I would bet the gooseneck

But I would use a silicon spray or teflon grease, not a petrol-based grease that could stain the sail.
 
Dec 3, 2003
544
None None Rochester, NY
Same boat same noise

Let me know if it is the goose-neck. It sounds like a creaking noise from the support post under the mast. I haven't inspected mine yet, but have some photos from another owner that shows a breakdown in the wooden support. Supposedly, it was a problem with the 33.5.
 
M

Matt

squeaking creaking mast on 1992 33.5

I was down today and found that the Jib sheet for the furling was not very tight...I recall one of my nephews flipping the release lever earlier this year and I thought my brother retightened it but I found it was still kind of loose. I was down alone so I never left the slip today. I noticed after cranking down the jib sheet that the boom vang loosened up some so this may be the cause of the creak. I am going out Saturday so we will see. I did try lubing obvious areas but never tried taking the bolt out of the gooseneck. That may be the next step. I will report in after the coming weekend.
 
Jun 4, 2004
255
Hunter 376 Annapolis MD
Not silicon spray

"I would use a silicon spray or teflon grease" Silicon spray can't handle the pressures, that's why you need to use high pressure bearing grease. Used sparingly as I said, the sail will not stain. Teflon grease might work, it depends on its specs. Allan
 
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