Hunter 240 mast stepping plate reinforcement

Feb 11, 2022
3
Hunter 240 Lake Nockamixon
Hello forum,
I have been worrying about the structural soundness of the mast stepping plate on my H240. Has anyone reinforced this? Curious your thoughts. Thanks in advance.
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,410
-na -NA Anywhere USA
Order a new mast plate from this forum store as the owner of SBO WAS a former Hunter employee and they have a build list of parts for your boat
 
Jun 18, 2025
1
Hunter 240 East Jordan
I have the same issue with the bracket pulling away from the deck. Have not found a permanent solution and Hunter guys said the bracket was never done that way. Dealer I purchased it from new said it shipped from Hunter with it secured to the deck. Let me know if you come across a good solution.

Thanks,
Dave
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,524
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
From the picture that plate looks narrower than the Zspar plate on my 23.5.

It is probably only an issue when raising or lower the mast and has managed for 20 years or so? Replacing the fasteners and keeping an eye on it is a viable option.

You could have a larger stainless-steel plate made and maybe add more screws. From the picture it looks as though you can only extend it out one way. to see is the embedded plate extends out spray a can of the compressed air duster (keyboard cleaner) upside down on the fiberglass for several seconds. The fiberglass will get very cold the metal plate will too, when you stop spraying water will condense on the fiberglass and a frost will form. The metal will stay cold longer, and you will see a line of frost form along the perimeter of the embedded plate. Be ready to mark it with a pencil. The same trick can be pulled off with dry ice by rubbing it along the fiberglass but is a little more dangerous to your fingers and the dry ice is not quite as portable as a can of duster.

it also looks like there is a crack in the bracket that I presume secures your gin pole. That is more worrisome than the broken screws.