Hinged base for 26.5 mast

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Michael Watkins

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May 2, 2015
4
Hunter 26.5 Sorel
Hello friends,

I want to customize the base of my Hunter 26.5 mast to be able to raise and lower it without the stress of having to hold it down while doing so.

This is my first Hunter boat and, coming from the Hobie Cat family, I don't know much about the parts and accessories required or available. I am enclosing a picture of the actual base. Is this the original piece?

If anyone can share some information on personal experience, procedure, parts suppliers, or anything that could help it would be much appreciated.

Fair winds to all!

Mike
 

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B

braol

.
Apr 16, 2014
348
Hunter 27 Rebel 16 Great Lakes Naval Base, IL
I've given heavy thought to this as well. I have an H27, so my mast is of similar size...although you have a step that looks like your mast slides over. My mast step is something that the mast slides into. Either way the two problems as I see it are: 1) Size/weight of mast requires something substantial. 2) Since mast slides into/over a step of some sort, it is not a matter of simply drilling a hole in the mast and inserting a pivot pin...the mast has to actually pivot and then slide DOWN a few inches into the step.

I think problem one is really no big deal...just make sure that the pivot point is thick enough aluminum or steel to bear the weight. The loads when pivoting a mast up are all shear loads at the deck and only last a few seconds when the mast is at maximum parallel to the deck.

The second problem is the crux of the whole thing. Cutting a slot at the base of the mast so that the mast can slide 'down' into the step would have to be done and then there are all the mechanics of pivoting a mast up and prevent it from sliding down the slot until near-vertical. If the mast slid down too soon, the forces at play in swaying up the mast would pinch the base. One option I thought of would be to remove the step and go with a thick, heavy u-channel type steel or aluminum step that is aligned fore/aft. This would maybe require two holes in the base of the mast...one to pivot and a second to lock the base in place? Or is the one pivot pin enough?
 
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