Crazy Dave and others, please help... The Mast struts on my 1999 H260 are not properly adjusted. The port side one has a bit of a bow in it when the mast is up, and when the mast comes down, it tends to miss the mast crutch, going to starboard side of it. I suspect that the port strut needs to be shortened a little bit. However, I tried to remove the mast through bolt to make the adjustment, and it was impossible to move it due to the stress on the struts. It could be removed while the mast is down, but then how do I know the proper adjustment? I'd like to make sure that both struts are properly adjusted to the right length, too. Thank you for any help you can provide. Tom
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
M
Mark
Hello Tom
If there is compression on the strut when the mast is raised then I would fix it ASAP. When I set up the mast on my 260 with the mast raised and all the shrouds and reverse diagonals loose I removed the side stays. The Port side one had a fair bit of pressure on it but then I re adjusted them both and rebolted to the mast. You may just have to take the one that is the problem off when the mast is lying down and then with help raise the mast carefully. Once the mast is up and the forestay is fixed take of the other one as well, adjust to the correct length and rebolt.
If there is compression on the strut when the mast is raised then I would fix it ASAP. When I set up the mast on my 260 with the mast raised and all the shrouds and reverse diagonals loose I removed the side stays. The Port side one had a fair bit of pressure on it but then I re adjusted them both and rebolted to the mast. You may just have to take the one that is the problem off when the mast is lying down and then with help raise the mast carefully. Once the mast is up and the forestay is fixed take of the other one as well, adjust to the correct length and rebolt.
T
Tom
Good idea...
Thank you for your reply, Mark. I'm thinking of disconnecting the struts with the mast down and temporarily replacing them with rope or nylon straps (MacGregor style) to keep the mast from falling off while rasing. Then do a good rig tuning, then adjust and re-attach the struts with the mast properly positioned. Comments? Fair winds, Tom
Thank you for your reply, Mark. I'm thinking of disconnecting the struts with the mast down and temporarily replacing them with rope or nylon straps (MacGregor style) to keep the mast from falling off while rasing. Then do a good rig tuning, then adjust and re-attach the struts with the mast properly positioned. Comments? Fair winds, Tom
M
Mark
Tom
It would be good if you can get a couple of people to assist. Get one on each side of her and hold the mast straight with the spinnaker halyard and the forestay with perhaps a length of rope attached to the forestay to give it enough length. Once the mast is up of course with the forestay attached the shrouds will hold the mast safe. Adjust the rigging and then bolt on the side stays. Regards and good luck!
It would be good if you can get a couple of people to assist. Get one on each side of her and hold the mast straight with the spinnaker halyard and the forestay with perhaps a length of rope attached to the forestay to give it enough length. Once the mast is up of course with the forestay attached the shrouds will hold the mast safe. Adjust the rigging and then bolt on the side stays. Regards and good luck!
J
John Revenboer
Adjustment
The proper way is to make the adjustment with the mast down. With the mast in the crutch and the base of the mast pined. The adjust the the struts equally and bolt to the mast.
The proper way is to make the adjustment with the mast down. With the mast in the crutch and the base of the mast pined. The adjust the the struts equally and bolt to the mast.
M
Mark
Sorry John
but I don't agree. Because at the end of the day it is important that they are "correct" when the mast is standing up so to achieve this they need to be un-bolted and adjusted with the mast stepped. I found that mine were fitted with the mast pinned and in the crutch however when the mst was raised they had uneven tension on them. The starboard side one was loose and the Port side strut was very very tight with a slight bend in it. Havind adjusted all the rigging with the struts off and then badjusting them and re-bolting mad a significant difference to the mast bend but not bow to stern bend but side ways bend. The way it was resulted in a snake in the mast as you viewed up the bolt slot. After unbolting, adjusting and re-bolting the snake in the mast was corrected. I might say that prior to adjusting the struts I messed around with the rigging for days but was not able to get the snake out. Also as a matter of interest with the original setting the top of the mast would not set down central on the pulpit but now it fits in dead middle.
but I don't agree. Because at the end of the day it is important that they are "correct" when the mast is standing up so to achieve this they need to be un-bolted and adjusted with the mast stepped. I found that mine were fitted with the mast pinned and in the crutch however when the mst was raised they had uneven tension on them. The starboard side one was loose and the Port side strut was very very tight with a slight bend in it. Havind adjusted all the rigging with the struts off and then badjusting them and re-bolting mad a significant difference to the mast bend but not bow to stern bend but side ways bend. The way it was resulted in a snake in the mast as you viewed up the bolt slot. After unbolting, adjusting and re-bolting the snake in the mast was corrected. I might say that prior to adjusting the struts I messed around with the rigging for days but was not able to get the snake out. Also as a matter of interest with the original setting the top of the mast would not set down central on the pulpit but now it fits in dead middle.
J
Jeff Peltier
Starting Point
Starting with the mast in the Crutch is a good starting point, assuming the crutch is not listing to one side or another. Things that can throw this off are a warped deck, misaligned chain plates or strut plates, or a hull mold that is past it's useful life and out of tolerence. Once up, measuring to the opposite hull flanges to ensure verticle usually works, assuming a symetrical hull. If at that point, there is too much pressure to fine tune the struts, either lower the mast and make ball park adjustments to get the struts closer, or get some help to put the mast up without them. Hope that helps, Jeff Peltier
Starting with the mast in the Crutch is a good starting point, assuming the crutch is not listing to one side or another. Things that can throw this off are a warped deck, misaligned chain plates or strut plates, or a hull mold that is past it's useful life and out of tolerence. Once up, measuring to the opposite hull flanges to ensure verticle usually works, assuming a symetrical hull. If at that point, there is too much pressure to fine tune the struts, either lower the mast and make ball park adjustments to get the struts closer, or get some help to put the mast up without them. Hope that helps, Jeff Peltier
- Status
- Not open for further replies.