How to keep Mast Vertical

[George H260]

Need tips on keeping mast verticalYesterday, while under sail, the "T" bolt of the forestay popped out of its slot at the head of the mast and the jib slowly floated down to the water.Of course, with nothing to keep the mast upright, after about 30 seconds the mast began a slow descent into the cockpit. We were able to catch it as it came down. I radioed ahead to the marina for help and we then motored back and tied up without any further problem. The mast struts did a great job keeping the mast straight as it came down and there does not seem to be any damage to the mast or the struts. As far as I can tell, the only damage to the boat was a small rip in the main, and a bent "T" bolt. I'm trying to assess what happened and to finger the cause. Maybe some of you might have some experience with this situation and could give advice on how to prevent it. For more on this subject go to this link: http://www.kobernus.com/hunter260/tbolt/tbolt.html

 

[John]

Rubber plug

Hi!When I bought mine 5 weeks ago I noticed a big rubber plug in the slut. I soon understood that it's job was to keep the slug in place to prevent such accident.I never tought that it could happen but you showed me wrong. It is only a strip of rubber thick as the one that you find on the side of a tire and it is squeeze into the slot very tight. I do not know how long it is inserted but surely enough to prevent it from popping out.Just an idea. Good luck

 

[George H260]

"T" bolt plugs

SecoSouth in Largo FL is the source of these plugs. I'll post more info on the exact part numbers and size after I talk to them more.

 

[Alan]

That rubber plug is only there to keep the forestay in place while the mast is down. Once the mast is up and properly tensioned the plug becomes redundant. If the T ball fitting popped out of the mast slot, the forestay must have been very loose to allow that kind of movement. The next time you put your mast up I would check the settings with a Loos gage to verify you are applying the correct stay tension.

 

[George H260]

H260 Forestay Tension

Alan, Your suggestion is a good one. However, not sure that was the problem because I had to use the boom vang to pin the forestay and there was no slack in the side stays. I always check the shrouds for tension but because I have a furler it's hard to check tension w/o taking the sail off. My season is over but when I step the mast in the Spring I'll do what you suggest.

 

[Rick Webb]

Did You Shorten the Forstay for the Furler?

In order for the drum to clear the deck many times an extension tang is added to the forstay and then all of the slack is taken up using the turnbuckle. problem is there is not enough room on the turnbuckle to do this properly. So if the forstay is not tight it could allow the t ball fitting to come out of the mast. Just a thought, and info for the new guts with these boats out there.

 

[soling42]

A happy ending. whew

An interesting story of an onwater dismasting thats not a tragedy. Were you on a beam reach/ close reach in a moderate breeze for the mast to be so managable? I'm glad the boat was rigged with the side struts but the pressure on them must have been incredible. This is a major heads up for all trailer boaters. Thanks. The rubber inserts are available at JSI in St Pete http://www.newjsi.com/default.aspxI havn't looked to see what size exactly but I will tonight and post for others.Glad you're ok and have a great He-man story about catchin' the mast at sea with your bare hands and saving the rig, oh yeah, and crew. Aloha, Michael and kelli

 

[Alan]

George

The headstay is only adjusted to set the rake of the mast. The turnbuckle on the headstay is never adjusted to provide tension. After the correct rake is determined and set, that turnbuckle in not to be adjusted.The tension in the headstay is provided by the shrouds and backstay. The amount of headstay tension is usually adjusted with an adjustable backstay.Last weekend we had just finished a race and taken down the spinnaker when the clevis pin at the top of our headstay blew out. Fortunately we were sailing off the wind and the genoa halyards were lead forward and cleated to hold the mast up till we could get back to the dock and re-pin the headstay. We finished racing the weekend series the following day but missed two races.

 

[Rick Webb]

Adjustable Backstay

The adjustable backstay on these is such a bitch to get to and such a bear to adjust everyone I know uses the forestay.

 

[Alan]

Sam

That means that every time they adjust the forestay they are changing the rake in the mast, balance in the helm, pointing, and a host of other trim features. How can they ever get it all right when these things are constantly being changed?If this is true these folks just don't understand rig tunning.

 

[Rick Webb]

Perhaps

Just maybe though, someone does not understand the Hunter 26 or 260.

 

[H260]

Adjustable Backstay

Last time I looked the H26 and H260 did not have a backstay?!

 

[Alan]

Adjustable Backstay

If a boat has no backstay then the only way to get headstay tension is with the cap shrouds. Adjusting the headstay length will still affect the rake of the mast and the balance of the sail plan. Dial in the appropriate amount of tension in the cap shrouds. This will induce bend in the mast. Then the "diagonals" of the B&R rig will need to be re-adjusted to produce a straighter mast.My purpose in responding to these inquiries is to help with solving the problem and keep it from reoccurring. However, some of the proposed suggestions are incorrect and I wanted to address this.

 

[soling42]

T-fitting rubber slug

After Georges recent issue I checked the stay T-fittings on our newish 260 while it's in the shop and found the wimpy plastic holders to be curled and frail from uv damage after only 2yrs and the port stay upper T-fitting was very bent, but not broken from an earlier mast stepping issue. Being bent, it literally fell out when I barely touched it. Be warned, with only the little plastic holder these upper T fittings will easily come out or twist when not tensioned. This is an area most 260 owners wouldn't think to keep an eye on when raising the mast unlike the lower turnbuckles which are a common problem if twisted. I would think a quick inspection of these(for prior damage and alighnment)before stepping the mast and a set of three (4mm)rubber inserts in the T-sockets and a breakaway tie wrap around the mast and upper stay t-fittings to keep them aligned downward should be standard mast raising protocall. One more thing to watch. Stay safe, Michael and Kelli

 

[George H260]

Follow up on this issue. Hunter said to contact Seco South for forestay evaluation. Mailed the forestay to Seco South in FL. They said I needed forestay replacement. They sent copy of pic I sent of the upper mast slot to Julian at US Spars who recommend I replace it also. Total cost will be less than $100. Seco South is also sending some T bolt plugs.As Mike points out, checking the T-bolts for damage is essential and the grey clips don't work well. Bent t-bolts MUST be replaced as they won't stay in the slot. Replacing the stays is a fairly easy operation compared to damage to the mast. Rubber plugs work better than the grey clips.Great service from Seco South and US Spars. Seco South2111 34th WayLargo FL 33771727.536.1924

 

[soling42]

Stays = no room for error. Error found early,

It gets even better.... While shortening the forestay to add a Johnson folding quick release at the forestay base I had to disassemble the furling drum and found the turnbuckle in the CDI drum unscrewed to the very, very end and NO SAFETY PINS! This is an unbeliveably close call as there is no tension on most turnbuckles while trailering and murphys law will screw you the wrong way on this critical and rather buried component. I would have never thought to check this without Georges heads up on his experience. Having found the bent side stay T and now the furling drum turnbuckle(thankfully) while still recommisioning our newish boat, I say thanks for posting. Now please go check your CDI furling drum turnbuckle too (even if it's a hassle). I guess there's just no excuses for us trailer sailors not to run over this stuff regularly and prior to setup.Picked up the 4mm rubber plugs for the T ends at the forestay and side stay heads this morning from JSI in St Pete. A great find for a local sailing gear/rigging store run by sailors.Aloha ~~_/)~~Michael and Kellis/v H260 Bonafide