Hunter 23.5 mast base halyard sheave problem

[Hugh Straub]

My 1993 23.5 has damage where the axle for the jib and main halyard turning blocks at the mast base passes into the deck molding. The hole in the fiberglass where the aft end of the axle is secured (nearest the main halyard sheave) has cracked and elongated to the point where any serious effort to tighten the main halyard risks ripping the axle and sheaves out of the deck molding.

I easily slid that axle forward and out of the deck molding, thus removing the axle and the main and jib halyard sheaves. With the axle and sheaves removed, it appears that I can fill that elongated after hole with chopped glass fiber and resin to close it off and after it sets, then pass a drill bit from the forward axle hole to restore the aft hole to the correct size, though I do not know whether my proposed repair will be sufficiently strong for the halyard load.

I also noted that the boat's metal mast step has openings on port and starboard which look appropriate to me to mount blocks for fairleading the main and jib halyards from the mast base to the on-deck turning blocks, rather than restore the apparently weak original system.

As I doubt I'm the first to confront this problem and I would be grateful to receive alternative solutions.

Many thanks

Hugh

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Hugh;

Please email me photos of the mast base to davecondon@mindspring.com so I can see specifically what you are talking about. Also a phone number please. Your information will remain private.

I will report back to you privately and then back to the forum to advise what was seen and suggestions.

Not only was I involved with the design of the boat, I know it better than most. It is easy to figure what is going on with a photo or two. You know the old saying a picture is worth a thousand words.

crazy Dave Condon

 

[Forrest15112]

I was looking at the same thing on my boat. Mine are in good shape, but was replacing some other sheaves and thought I might just replace all of them. I couldn't figure out how to get the axle out to replace the sheaves. I have seen other recommendations here to just attach a block to the mast foot.

 

[BrianW]

Forrest, on my H-26, I can access the sheave axle through, what I believe, is a factory-installed access plate on the cabin roof, slightly aft of where the sheave is. You'll probably need a small flashlight to locate it. My shaft occasionally slipped out of the fore end "channel". Also, I've had to replace the small vertical piece of flat plastic that separates the 2 sheaves. From the deck, I had to use tiny needle-nosed pliers to move the axle shaft fore or aft into/out of the channel. It helps to have 2 people for the job, one inside the cabin and the other on deck. I used 3M-4200 to help stabilize between the shaft and the fiberglass shaft channel to discourage lateral movement of the shaft and to provide a weather seal. BrianW

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Hugh,
If you are concerned about the fiberglass embedded block strength, it does make sense to add a turning block to the mast step. All my halyards are turned with mast step attached blocks.

 

[Ed13752]

I also have a 1993 23.5 with this problem. Crazy Dave, what was the solution?

 

[Hugh Straub]

I also have a 1993 23.5 with this problem. Crazy Dave, what was the solution?

I have removed the fiberglas imbedded halyard blocks and temporarily taped over the holes. No more leaks. Instead, I have shackled two blocks to the mast base plate which provide the necessary fair lead to the on deck turning blocks. This mod works a treat. My next step is to plug the old fiberglas holes with epoxy or fiberglas filler and the job is done.

Krgds

Hugh Straub

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

take a photo and send it to me so I can tell you what I would do.

davecondon@mindspring.com

 

[timothy_c]

I too have the same problem. The original owner of the boat solved it the same way; utilixing the mast step with turning blocks..

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Brian;

What I was trying to figure out if the halyard turning blocks were screwed into the deck or attached to the mast step. Originally, the halyard turning blocks were designed to be attached to the mast step which has outward flanges with holes. The base of the turning block was in essence a bolt style with threaded end that was to be secured by a nut underneath the flange. If this is correct, send me an email and I will then tell you where to look at a diagram of it if still posted.

crazy dave