Hunter 146 Rigging

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sguice

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May 10, 2011
1
Hunter 146 Home
We just purchased a new 2008 Hunter 146. After the initial rigging, I thought I would leave the main sail on the boom and cover it for storage but when I lower the mainsail the back of the boom drops into the cockpit fo the boat. Is this normal or is the boom supposed to stay up. I always thought that the boom would have a fixed position 90 degrees to the mast. I am also having difficulty rigging the furling jib. Please let me know if you have any advice or can share any diagrams. This is my first experience with a monohul sailboat.
 
Feb 26, 2010
259
Hunter 15 Fremantle, Western Australia
You can do 2 things to keep the boom up.
1. after you have lowered the mainsail, use the main halyard attached to the end of the boom as a topping lift.
or
2. Install a boomkicker (see photo). The model you require for your boat is not expensive, very easy to install yourself, and, IMHO, worth every penny.
This is what I did for my H15 and my toes continue to thank me for not being crushed when the boom crashes to the cockpit sole when I drop my mainsail.
Happy sailing in your new boat!
 

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Jul 7, 2010
26
Hunter 146 Duxbury, MA
I echo the recommendation for a boomkicker! It's very easy to install and definitely worth the $100 or so.

Here is my rigging routine -
1 - I always keep both shrouds attached to the deck eyelets for a quicker setup time. Keep one shroud adjuster in the closed/tightened position, and the other in the open position.
2 - Step the mast and walk it forward, then have a helper secure the jib to the roller furler.
3 - Have one of your deck hands close and secure the 'open' shroud adjuster while you keep the mast upright and plumb.
4 - Sail
Note: I've always had help in stepping the mast and attaching the jib to the furler drum. You can rig a pully to the top third portion of the bow side of the mast, and attach a line to it for stepping the mast and attaching the jib on your own. This would go near where the top of the forestay is secured to the mast. Search on this forum, there are a couple of threads that discuss that.

Regarding your question about the self-furling jib - I had the same issue. I bought my boat used, and self-furling jib system was missing one key component that allowed it to work. I attached the eyelet at the foot of the jib to the eyelet on the forestay by way of lashing them together with some thin rope. The forestay attaches to the roller drum with a shackle. Voila! The self furling will now work as long as the forestay and the sail are attached. You can also use shackles to attach the two.

Enjoy your boat!
Bostonian
 
Jul 7, 2010
26
Hunter 146 Duxbury, MA
PS - Go to your local ship chandlery and buy an extra packet of cotter pins and/or cotter rings for the shoud adjusters and furling jib connections! I also keep a couple of shackles on hand. All of these are incredibly easy to lose, and they might come in handy if something comes loose or gets lost while underway. I have most of mine secured with thin rope and tied to something stationary for this reason.
 
Feb 26, 2010
259
Hunter 15 Fremantle, Western Australia
I agree with Bostonian re having those extra bits. It's so easy to drop a shackle pin in the water or in the sand and never find it. I use quick pins on my shroud adjusters and secure them with thin line to the body of the adjusters. Even with this precaution I carry extras. I keep all these bits in a small tupperware-esque food storage box with a locking lid and have it quickly accessible while I am sailing.
Also as you are new to this BB, I suggest that you have a look at the articles that H146, H15 and H170 owners have written re what modifications they have made to their boats (look under the boat info tab at the top of the page). There is a lot of helpful info on this website from very supportive and knowledgeable people. They sure have helped me a lot!
 
Feb 26, 2010
259
Hunter 15 Fremantle, Western Australia
Blue Runner's solution works a treat! I did a similar set up on my H15 (a H146 but with a fibreglass hull). I haven't used an extra line, I just use the main halyard cleated on the mast and attached to a 6 purchase pully system with cam cleat that is attached to the trailer mast carrier (i welded a bit of chain near the top of the mast carrier to act as an anchor point). That holds the mast up and gives it enough forward bend so I can jump out of the boat and very easily attach the forestay/furling drum to the stemhead fitting on the bow.
What sort of shroud adjusters do you have on your H146, the Johnson quick release ones?
 
Jul 7, 2010
26
Hunter 146 Duxbury, MA
Yes, I have the Johnson quick release shroud adjusters. Do you have a picture you can post of the setup?
 
Feb 26, 2010
259
Hunter 15 Fremantle, Western Australia
I didn't have any photos taken prior to a launch so just went outside and mocked up a scene that should give you the idea. Attached are two photos that tell the story. Note, I misspoke before, this is a 4 purchase system, not a 6. Its been so long since I've been sailing (last August), I forget what my boat looks like!
Note the splicenut that I installed on the main halyard. Promises that you will never get your halyard stuck in the mast head. As you can see, I am an unrepentant gadget freak.

PS. I added a photo of my forestay/furling drum/stemhead connection. Since taking this photo I removed the twisted shackle and just use the long shackle between the drum and the jib tack.
 

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Feb 26, 2010
259
Hunter 15 Fremantle, Western Australia
Wait until you see my whisker pole set up! Actually I can't wait to try out all the modifications I have done while my leg has been healing. If I continue to be clumsy and break body parts, I think I'll end up with a PT Boat instead of a Daysailer! LOL!
 
Feb 26, 2010
259
Hunter 15 Fremantle, Western Australia
Which system, my whisker pole set up? - No, I shattered my leg right after installing it so haven't been sailing since and now it is winter here. The next time it is sunny I will take some photos of how I have it attached to the mast. Images of the component parts are attached. I riveted a bail to the mast. I attach the 'beak' end of the pole to this as it allows the pole to easily swing from port to starboard. The spike end fits into the jib clew. I riveted a small eye strap/saddle in the middle of the pole. The 1" diameter pole hangs from a line that is attached to this on one end and to another higher on the mast. I figured that this support would help when attaching the pole to either the mast or the jib clew. Note that the total length of the entire whisker pole should be the same length as the foot of the foresail you are going to use it with.
 

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Feb 26, 2010
259
Hunter 15 Fremantle, Western Australia
It was sunny today so I grabbed my whisker pole off my mast and took a few photos. One thing I didn't mention before was that I ran a thin line from the middle of the pole to the beak to be able to easily open the beak mechanism.
I keep the pole on the mast. It stays in place by keeping the beak end on the bail and pivoted up to snap into the black spring clip you see in the photo. The white fitting in the same photo is used to clip the 'topping lift' line that comes from the centre of the pole to hold it up while installing it. It also keeps it from going overboard when 'butter fingers' like me are setting it up.
 

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