Help with mast and vang attachment

F

Fingerlakes

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Jun 29, 2026
2
Hunter 23.5 Lansing Harbor
We just purchased a 1995 Hunter 23.5, and are concerned about the mast and the attachment of the vang at the base of the mast. We have 3 questions (actually more, but gotta start somewhere): (1) does the crack in the mast a structural problem that indicates a need to replace it? (2) Does the boom vang attach to the mast pin at the base? and (3) Is there special shackle we should use to attach the boom vang to the mast pin or should we install a tang or boom bail?

Thanks for your help! There are no standing rigging folks that we've found here at Cayuga Lake, New York or in Rochester, so hoping someone can point us in the right direction!
20260629_093958.jpg
 
JRacer

JRacer

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Aug 9, 2011
1,395
Beneteau 310 Cheney KS (Wichita)
I would be concerned about that crack. I would think that could be welded to repair but you would need to find someone that does TIG welding and is experienced in welding aluminum. You might find someone through a "speed shop", auto racers often have aluminum parts that get welded. Depending on the repair cost, the mast replacement might be an option. As to the boom vang, I assume that photo shows the vang's fiddle block shackled to the port side of the mast base. I would likely move that to the pin that shows on the photo at the center of the mast. You could fabricate a short wire cable with loops on each end shackling one to the base of the mast and the other to the fiddle block if you wanted to get the block a bit off the deck. Attached is a phot of mine on the Beneteau 310. Hope this helps.
 

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F

Fingerlakes

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Jun 29, 2026
2
Hunter 23.5 Lansing Harbor
The reason the vang is hooked to the side is because we didn't realize until we got there that we were missing the part that jssailem posted.. With all our searching online, I never saw that part. As it turns out, we will have to take the boat out of the water to get the mast welding done.
Thank you both for your replies. We are acting on both today!
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
14,002
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Have you tried Shumway Marine in Rochester? Many years ago they did some rigging for me. Another place is Obersheimer's in Buffalo.

I use Rigging Only in Fairhaven, MA. Ship the old rigging to them and have it duplicated.

 
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