Demasted H260

[IslandSouvenir]

My father and I attempted to step the mast on the H260 for the first time today. The halyard line brake was accidentally disengaged while the mast was nearly full in position. That immediately led to the dropping of the mast on the cradle from a significant height. The bar the is inserted into the base of the mast was bent in a 90 degree angle, the hole it is inserted to in the mast is ripped on the aluminum, and the cradle is bent. I can’t tell if the mast is bent or not but is suspect it is slightly bent aft.

I’m not sure what to do next. I’m just north of the Minneapolis area and really don’t know of any good place to take the boat to. I also have no idea how much money (ballpark) of damage we’ve just done - though I fear it’s a lot. I also don’t know how long it typically takes to repair something like this. I’m hoping it isn’t an entire summer.

I am happy to say that nobody was hurt - but our sailing career has not started well. I’m sick over it and don’t have many ties to the sailing community for help. Any input that can be provided would be very much appreciated.

 

[Phil Herring]

So sorry to hear this but glad no one was hurt. Many of us have had a little trouble our first time out (I'm not admitting a thing) so don't be discouraged.

I'm not clear if the hull was damaged, or just the mast? Any photos? You'll get plenty of help here.

 

[IslandSouvenir]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the reply. It was not an ideal first outing. To my best estimate the hull was not damaged. We are pretty dejected over the matter. I had registered in a course to learn to sail and then COVID saw it canceled. The next step was to try and find someone I could pay to give private lessons - thought I could put it in the slip and raise the mast (they claim its easy) by myself and save some time to actually sail.

I’m a bit down today, but it will take a lot more to defeat me.

So far sailing has meant bottom painting in my driveway, buffing the crap out of fiberglass, and letting my two year old (who calls herself captain Abby on the boat) play with the wheel. The last part makes the other parts worth it...

 

[Hunter216]

@IslandSouvenir
Sorry to hear about the mishap and glad that no one was injured, other than your pride and likely a big spike in your blood pressure !

@Phil Herring and @Dave Groshong here at SBO are the go to guys for Hunter and can help you with the parts you may need so you have made a good choice by posting here.

Lots of helpful folk here that will offer opinion and advice

 

[IslandSouvenir]

Both Dave (over email) and Phil responded crazy quick. Not sure if they realize it, but when you don’t have many places to turn it provides much reassurance to know there are folks to help. Real salt of the earth people.

 

[Phil Herring]

Captain Abby will be back at the helm before you know it. . So it sounds like you damaged the bow rail that cradles the mast and possibly the mast. The reinforcement plate and mast raising pole aren't too expensive (by boat standards). Hunter 260 Rigging & Spars Parts

The bow rail will be, so if you can find a local shop that works with stainless see if it can be repaired. That wouldn't have to be marine business.

The mast, that's tricky and you don't want to buy one unless you absolutely have to. Someone who knows more about rigging than I do can hopefully help you determine if it's damaged. A photo of the area you think might be damaged could help.

On the bright side, that's one mistake you'll never make again. The first time I launched a boat (it was a small power boat) from a trailer, the cable broke. That's when I started thinking moorage was a pretty cool idea.

 

[Benny17441]

Do you have the boat insured? That can qualify as a covered accidental damage to the property. If you do have insurance make a claim and have an adjuster provide an estimate of the damage and the name of their providers. They could make the counter claim that it was operator negligence but that would be their argument to make, not yours. Error is not negligence. Most reputable insurers will offer and provide at least some type of assistance. I would think it is likely that the mast could be repaired at a reasonable cost, but insurance companies like to replace them with new ones.

 

[Hunter216]

@IslandSouvenir

I don’t have any hands-on with a 260 but @rgranger might offer some insight as to how to look at the mast.

Looking at your photos and your description of the event it would be a good idea to carefully check the casting on the bottom of the mast, the retaining pin and mast step on the cabin top for damage.

I assume the struts prevented twisting on the way down and the mast landed on the crutch ( did it suffer any damage?) at the stern so that impact point would be an area of potential damage. Check the groove where the mainsail slugs slide to see if it’s deformed.

The gin pole sounds like it’s pretty bad and the hole it inserts into like you said is torn. Looks like the exterior reinforcement casting could be easily replaced by taking out the rivets but it’s hard to tell how damaged the actual mast is there.

I don’t understand what Phil is referring to about the bow rail?

Hang in there!

 

[DrJudyB]

Do you have the boat insured? That can qualify as a covered accidental damage to the property. If you do have insurance make a claim and have an adjuster provide an estimate of the damage and the name of their providers. They could make the counter claim that it was operator negligence but that would be their argument to make, not yours. Error is not negligence. Most reputable insurers will offer and provide at least some type of assistance. I would think it is likely that the mast could be repaired at a reasonable cost, but insurance companies like to replace them with new ones.

The property damage section of my Boat Insurance covers operator error. If I do something that damages my boat, like drop a mast or hit a rock, I would be covered up to the declared limit of my policy.

 

[rgranger]

@IslandSouvenirI don’t have any hands-on with a 260 but @rgranger might offer some insight as to how to look at the mast.

Yes! To translate what @Hunter216 said... rgranger has done worse TWICE!

I don't want to relive the details here but your damage does not look to hard to fix. Regarding the aluminum plate for the lifting pole. Drill out those rivets, then find a piece of aluminum plating. You might be able to find it Lowes over by the area where they sell plexiglass and angle iron. Then drill a hole, bend it and rivet it back on.

If I were bending the plate I'd use a wooden post. drill two holes in the aluminum and through bolt it to the post,... then start gently whacking it with a rubber mallet until the aluminum bends around the post. This will be a time consuming step because you will want to take is slow.

Do you need to repair the lifting pole? If so, you are in luck. The pole is the exact same diameter as chain-link fence poles. I can post pics of that rebuild if you need it.

Next I would examine a few other things...

1) Is the mast foot damaged or bent? If so @Dave Groshong can get you a new one (how do I know this)

2) Look at the spreaders and spreader brackets... if they are damaged Dave G can also get you those

3) Check all of your stays for damage... you don't want a baby stay to pop out while lifting the mast.... yeah, I've had that happen also.

The last thing I would do would be to carefully review what went wrong. The mast raising system on these boat is pretty good. The first time I dropped my mast, I had clipped the baby stays to the wrong connection point on the stanchion post and they got too tight during the lift. It was user error.

You also said you were lifting your mast in the slip. I wouldn't do that. Lift the mast on the trailer and then launch the boat. I'd also point the trailer down hill if possible. Another good practice is to raise the mast only half way and then do a walk about and make sure nothing is tangled, the turnbuckles are not binding etc. Then finish the raise.

You might also develop a "fail-safe" procedure. For example, if you have a "policy" that anytime you take your hand off of the halyard while lifting.... you tie it off on a cleat, then you won't have to worry about accidentally releasing the break and dropping the mast again.

Anyway, don't beat yourself up about it. If you sail long enough, you eventually break something on your boat... and you eventually kiss the bottom with your keel... drop your favorite hat overboard... or a winch handle ($)... drag an anchor... blow a tire while trailering on the interstate... etc. It is part of the fun.

When you are ready to raise the mast again... people here can walk you through the process. @Crazy Dave Condon (on this forum) actually designed the system for the H26 and H260 so he can give you some step by step help.

 

[Hunter216]

rgranger has done worse TWICE!

I hope you didn’t take offence as I had only recalled that you had a H26.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I sent you a private message as I was very much involved with the 260 as with all the water ballast boats. The first is determine mast and boom mfg as there were several. Then follow up from the standpoint as a former adjuster who also handled boat claims.
Dave Condon alias Crazy Dave

 

[rgranger]

I hope you didn’t take offence as I had only recalled that you had a H26.

@Hunter216
No offense... just some self deprecating humor. I didn't mention any details from the second dismasting because... well.... it is just too embarrassing.

 

[Phil Herring]

I didn't mention any details from the second dismasting because... well.... it is just too embarrassing.

It will make for a great post in this week's featured topic.

That's all I'm sayin'.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Update

Spoke with the owner. No sailboat dealers in state. Jib halyard holding mast raise pole held in place by rope clutch. It was released accidentally when a foot hit that lever due to a kinked shroud I think. B The mast came down backwards held in place from going sideways due to mast stabilizer bars hitting aft mast carrier from the up position.
The owner is a new sailor whom he bought from a broker who did not show much to this new sailor. In fact the yard charged $300 just to take the mast down

Photos requested where mast hit aft mast carrier to see if damage there as well as to where mast carrier is attached to stern. The mast is U S Spars formerly Z Spar. Happened yesterday to this veteran. I told him to report claim to USSA tomorrow and give his adjuster my contact info as I was a former adjuster/investigator who use to handle boat claims

@Phil Herring
I will advise Groshong. The big problem is for someone competent to do repairs as owner is nowhere near a sailboat yard

Will keep you all advised

 

[IslandSouvenir]

Thanks for the responses guys. Here is a picture of the plate on the mast, and some more of the carnage My boat is insured through USAA - which subs Progressive. I'll let you know how it goes. She's out of the marina now and back on the trailer. The mast was pinned and 90% up but we noticed a stay was crooked (on the port side, right over the line stopper for the jib halyard). As we crawled up to see how we were going to address it, tragedy struck.

Many lessons learned on this one. Here are a few for anyone that stumbles across this and needs my very expensive 1 hour of wisdom...

1. Step the mast before you get in the water
2. Use the winch as a failsafe for the jib halyard.
3. Use break away ties to keep things in place as the mast goes up (we used to do this when we sling loaded things under helicopters in the army, and I should have known to do this from the start)

And probably:
4. The irony in the term "stays" is palpable. Those things seem to do anything but stay in one spot as the mast goes up...

 

[rgranger]

You may have gotten lucky.

Here are some pics of when I had to build a new mast raising pole.... Like I said in the earlier post, the pole is exactly the same as a chain link fence pole... (Lowes or HD).

 

[rgranger]

Sadly, I got more mast and rig repair pics if you need them.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Rob
Let me handle for now.

 

[DrJudyB]

Sadly, I got more mast and rig repair pics if you need them.

Rob,
Please post them along with commentary. It’s useful for all of us to seewhat happened, how it happened, and how you fixed the damage.

Judy B