Hunter 25 Mast & Rigging
My first boat was a 1978 Hunter 25 shoal draft. I always dropped the mast myself in a slip with all docklines tight to limit movement of the boat. I loosened the turnbuckles on the side stays and the thru bolt at the mast base, tightened the main sheet on the boom and disconnected the back stay. It was then possible to slowly let off on the main sheet, using the boom as a lever arm, lower the mast forward to the bow pulpit onto a boat fender. You can obviously disconnect the stays for repair, rewire the light,or do what ever you need safely. If you inspect used sails at a loft, you need to take your own measurements. I'd prefer to take the existing sails to a local sailmaker and have his professional input on whether the sails can be repaired or recut. If thy're beyond repair, and you are keeping the boat, I'd at least consider a new main, possibly loose footed, with at least one reef and longer battens for a sail I'd use for 10-15 years. It might be a little easier to find reasonable quality used headsails through someone like Bacon's, where I bought an excelent quality used 155% Genoa (for my 28.5) at 30-40% of it's new price.
