how to take down mast for trailering

Joe · May 8, 2022

gypsywind1980 said:
i have a hunter 27 1980 wanting to take down mast for traveling how do i take it down does this mast just sit down on a cleat?
what or where i can watch video to take down
thank you for your help

Is there a hinge at the base of the mast. (it's called a tabernacle). If so, post a picture of it and how your rigging is configured... standing and running.. then you might be able to find some helpful things on YourTube. If not then you will need to lift it with a crane or A-frame device. Sometimes you can find adequate crane or boat lifting equipment at local boatyards, yacht clubs or even marinas that offer dry storage. I can tell you that an older, masthead rigged 27 footer can have a seriously heavy spar.... whereas the bendy, lighter weight masts on more modern, fractionally rigged vessels can be much easier to handle... especially those that are designed for trailer sailing like the H260. Finally, is if possible the previous cab owner help you.

David in Sandusky · May 8, 2022

You need a mast crane.
You dock the boat alongside the crane.
Set up saw horses on the shore side of the crane to hold the mast.
Fasten wood fixtures to the boat fore and aft to support the mast in shipment.
Loop a line around the mast under the spreaders and take out most, but not all of the slack.
Loosen, disconnect, and gather the stays with light line.
With one person at the foot of the mast, and one on the crane, take the slack out of the line, and lift the mast about 6 inches over the aluminum step fixture inside the bottom of the mast.
Label and disconnect the electric cables running inside the mast.
Tie the stays to the bottom of the mast.
While one person tends the foot of the mast, lift it a few feet above the base of the crane, swing it ashore,
Lay the mast on the sawhorses.
Securely tie the stays to the mast And prepare it for shipment.
Lift the mast with the crane, and set it on the wood fixtures.
Fasten the mast down securely with multiple straps to the toe rails.
The boat is now ready to take to a lift for transfer to a trailer.

The crew at our marina would do this for a fee, using the crane on one of their lifts.

The 75-83 h27 is not designed to be easily trailerable, but I have seen them hauled out on trailers for transport to the owner’s place for the winter, or transport by an owner. We took our mast down this way every winter for three seasons until we moved to a marina that can lift and position our boat for storage with the mast up.

Later 24 to 26 foot Hunters, Catalina, and Macgregors have masts with hinges (tabernacles), and water ballast to reduce towing weight. They are well designed to meet your needs. At 7,000 pounds, the ‘80 h27 is a load to tow, requires the steps above to trailer, and rides higher because of its lead keel.

Good luck!

PJL · May 9, 2022

Mast cranes are not necessarily required. That said, a hinged mast-step is required. Another required item is some type of A-frame to prevent the hoisting line from collapsing against the mast. I used this setup to trailer a fixed keel Catalina 27 between lakes and ocean. No hoist available. Launch and recovery took place by submerging the trailer. Some Cat 27 owners had trailer tongue extensions. I used a 3/4 inch nylon rope between the truck and trailer. (Note that the trailer wheel was kept in it's lowest rolling position.) Either of these methods will keep the tow vehicle tires out of the water to prevent them from slipping (or falling off the launch ramp [have watched that happen]).

My A-frame was two, approx 12 ft long, iron poles with the ends angled different directions for deck attachment and for bolting together at the upper end. The upper end was attached to both the main halyard and the main-sheet block and tackle. This arrangement was used for raising and lowering. It may be useful to have a flat bar for connecting the three: 1) halyard to one end; 2) A-frame to middle; 3) main-sheet block and tackle to the bottom end. The main-sheet assembly was used to lower or raise the mast.

LloydB · May 9, 2022

Go to YouTube and type in sailboat mast raising. You will find a large selection of examples from small to large sailboats both professional and do it yourself examples. Also for additional personal experiences you can go to trailer the sailor forum on this site and look up mast raising there.

David in Sandusky · May 9, 2022

PJL : So you say you can install a hinged mast step instead of the fixed inserted step that is original equipment on the ‘80 h27?

OK. But you would have to take the mast down to install the hinged step. And the mast would stick out around 12-15 feet behind the stern when trailering. All solvable issues, along with the weight and high load over a fixed keel.

Crazy Dave Condon · May 10, 2022

As a volunteer and owning a sailboat dealership, I took care of one such boat for the Boy Scouts

@David in Sandusky nailed that one on the head. I am the one who introduced mast raising equipment to Catalina and Hunter. The mast is too heavy. I did design mast raising systems for later Hunter 27 models

Benny17441 · May 11, 2022

Not all 27' boats were created equal, and in a Hunter 27 Cherubini the best way to remove the mast is with a crane. A hinged Mast step on this h27 would not do much good, we are talking about a tall rig, heavy mast.