We bought our 1986 Hunter Legend 45 last November and have been mostly very happy, even with all of the upgrades we needed. However, one thing that seems very odd to us is that the boom is very high up and difficult to deal with from the standpoint of pulling the main down, securing it and then putting on the cover. Was this designed/intended to be this way? Only someone very tall could deal with this without standing on something, which is difficult when the boat is rolling. Almost seems dangerous.
By deduction, we figured out what the previous owners did to handle this (well, sort of handle it). We found two mast steps mounted a few feet above the deck at the same level. We tried standing on these while tending to the sail, but they are hard to climb into and once there balance is a problem. We then found a folding swim ladder in the sail locker and the light went on. The ladder hooks into the steps to allow climbing up to the top of the sail. However, this is still very awkward and it is very difficult to hold on once at the top of the ladder, besides still not being very safe.
Has anyone out there with an H-45 got the same issue and, if so, how have you dealt with it. Was the mast and boom actually designed this way? I know that the entire system could be swapped out, but that is just not in the budget at this time.
By deduction, we figured out what the previous owners did to handle this (well, sort of handle it). We found two mast steps mounted a few feet above the deck at the same level. We tried standing on these while tending to the sail, but they are hard to climb into and once there balance is a problem. We then found a folding swim ladder in the sail locker and the light went on. The ladder hooks into the steps to allow climbing up to the top of the sail. However, this is still very awkward and it is very difficult to hold on once at the top of the ladder, besides still not being very safe.
Has anyone out there with an H-45 got the same issue and, if so, how have you dealt with it. Was the mast and boom actually designed this way? I know that the entire system could be swapped out, but that is just not in the budget at this time.