I recently purchased a1996 H26 and didn’t notice that the mast was pretty damaged where the gin pole is inserted. I purchased a cover for that from US Spar and I have to drill out the opening myself. Can someone tell me what the opening should be for the 1 1/4” gin pole? I’m just not sure if it needs to be too snug. Thanks for any help, Eric
Hole for gin pole in the mast
- Thread starter Eric S W
- Start date
The pole is pretty floppy on a 23.5, and the 26 has a similar system. I think the pole may fit onto something inside the mast. I would estimate the top of the gin pole would move a couple of feet when in position and loose. The pole needs a little play so it can move a bit because the lines used for raising and lowering will stretch as the load changes, and will change the angle of the gin pole a bit. You dont want the pole hard up against the hole in the mast or it may kink. Thats the best I can give you.
Good suggestion @BobSail on checking the drawings- they are in the Boat Info area of this site. The H26 drawing is here:
X:\OLD BOATS\h26\H26A2109
And the H260 here:
Hunter_260_28617783.pdf
X:\OLD BOATS\h26\H26A2109
And the H260 here:
Hunter_260_28617783.pdf
Thanks for that link, I was searching outside of this site and it seemed like the Marlow-Hunter links are dead. Now I have to try and fabricate a doubler. US Spar sales said he didn’t think it was necessary actually used the word overkill.
Wouldn't the cover you are installing serve the same purpose? Just a double-thickness of metal around the gin pole hole?
I have added photos. The measurement of the caliber represents the diameter of the mast raising pole. The part number from US Spars is 5028 for a Z230 mast section. Hole for gin pole in the mast
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Likely wont help at all but this is a picture of the H240 mount for the gin pole.
I have a gin pole lol; I thought it was just the mast raising pole.
I have a gin pole lol; I thought it was just the mast raising pole.
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@caverun @BobSail @CrispyCringle @dlochner
look at the bottom of the mast where the mast raising pole is designed to go into the mast. I am very much the integrity of the mast has been jeopardized with previous damage and repairs made that has given way, mast wall further pushed in. Also, I can see a deflection on top of the mast looking side to side too.
The mast raise system had a second plate to strengthen the front of the mast where the mast raise pole is inserted with the exception of one mast manufacturer which was different.
Your thoughts but I will go to the mast manufacturer
once Eric identifies who made the mast @Eric S W
@stevehughes. Is your mast a Dwyer as the attachment of the mast raising hole to the deck was designed that way?
dave
look at the bottom of the mast where the mast raising pole is designed to go into the mast. I am very much the integrity of the mast has been jeopardized with previous damage and repairs made that has given way, mast wall further pushed in. Also, I can see a deflection on top of the mast looking side to side too.
The mast raise system had a second plate to strengthen the front of the mast where the mast raise pole is inserted with the exception of one mast manufacturer which was different.
Your thoughts but I will go to the mast manufacturer
once Eric identifies who made the mast @Eric S W
@stevehughes. Is your mast a Dwyer as the attachment of the mast raising hole to the deck was designed that way?
dave
Sorry Dave i failed to answer that earlier, my mast is aluminum and this is the sticker on it
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Yeah, to my my purely layman opinion, the mast seems like it has some issues. But I'd think its useable for lake sailing. Maybe Crazy Dave can comment, but the the things I find concerning are the "prebend" is not factory and it seems like it would take some work to bend it back like it is, and the hole for the raising pole has seen some abuse. Im talking about where the pics show the hole pushed in by a fairly large amount, weakening the mast wall. But again, with a good repair with that doubler piece it will probably work. So long is care is taken in the future that the pole is properly positioned so it doesn't mangle the hole repair again. Or, worst case, the mangled hole is such that the mast has lost too much bending integrity and its not safe. Perhaps welding the doubler on would be better in this case. You will have to decide.
Would it be nice to have a new mast? Sure, but these boats are old and the replacement may or may not be available or cost effective compared to the total boat value. Or not. I haven't priced one out. Maybe a used one is available someplace. There are boat salvage yards. All Im saying is its seen some abuse, but you can probably get away with it. So, just some food for thought.
FYI- The term "gin pole" is appropriate for this topic, according to wiki: (paraphrased) "A gin pole is a mast supported by one or more guy-wires that uses a pulley or block and tackle mounted on its upper end to lift loads." But Hunter does call it by another name.
Would it be nice to have a new mast? Sure, but these boats are old and the replacement may or may not be available or cost effective compared to the total boat value. Or not. I haven't priced one out. Maybe a used one is available someplace. There are boat salvage yards. All Im saying is its seen some abuse, but you can probably get away with it. So, just some food for thought.
FYI- The term "gin pole" is appropriate for this topic, according to wiki: (paraphrased) "A gin pole is a mast supported by one or more guy-wires that uses a pulley or block and tackle mounted on its upper end to lift loads." But Hunter does call it by another name.
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Thanks for your response. We do intend to use and store the boat at a local lake. I talked to Dave offline and sent some additional pictures for him to look at. I am fortunate to have a son who can tig weld and did so professionally for a few years which made me think about welding the doubler on as well. I certainly wish I had looked more carefully at the mast before purchase.
Well, I hope I didn't sound too negative in my last post. But I mentioned the factors that I would be thinking about if it was my boat. If you weld the doubler on I think the base area will be about as strong as the original. Much more so than using rivets. Perhaps Crazy Dave can chime in (in public) so we can all learn, but I think in the original build, the doubler was to strengthen the hole from getting deformed more than strengthening the mast from being bent. So careful mast raising pole usage should make that okay.
As for the mast bend, for 99% of what the boat is made for, lake and maybe some gentle coastal cruising, I dont think you will notice too much difference one way or the other. If you were to get into serious racing, which is not the boat to do that in, or you got fanatical about sail trim, having the proper mast curve may make a 1/2 kt difference after its been trimmed as perfectly as possible.
Make sure you inspect the side and fore stays- No broken strands poking out, especially at the end fittings. All that being said, Id get some other opinions. But from what Ive seen in the pics, with the doubler welded on, Im pretty sure Id take the boat out and have years of fun if it was mine.
I am still waiting on a second opinion from US Spars as to integrity of the mast as I once saw similar damage that the owner had repaired but the mast failed. This mast was previously damaged with welds that have given way,, new crack, hole enlarged and it appears to have some deformity on the front of the mast. I err on the side off safety but
@Eric S W will have to make that decision.
As for the second plate, it was my call to strengthen the area where the mast raising pole was inserted into the mast. I worked with the Zz Spar enginee
when the mast was being engineered due to the mast raising concept involved.
I will post a response once I get the other opinion.
@Eric S W will have to make that decision.
As for the second plate, it was my call to strengthen the area where the mast raising pole was inserted into the mast. I worked with the Zz Spar enginee
when the mast was being engineered due to the mast raising concept involved.
I will post a response once I get the other opinion.