OK, this may seem like a stupid question but I want to replace the piece of rope that holds up the boom. I don't have a trailer so taking down the mast would take an act of congress. Is it possible just to crawl up my mast? OK, so how about hoisting. Please help. Thanx, Tony
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Ray Bowles
Tony, Get a hunters owner manual...
you didn't mention the year of your boat but dropping the mast should be a piece of cake. My wife and I can raise or lower the mast on our H26 in about 10 minutes. Unless you weigh less than 15# I would be scared to death to be any higher on your mast than you can reach by hand. There could also be other ways to re-thread that line in place that I don't know about. I noticed you are also another night shifter. Good luck.
you didn't mention the year of your boat but dropping the mast should be a piece of cake. My wife and I can raise or lower the mast on our H26 in about 10 minutes. Unless you weigh less than 15# I would be scared to death to be any higher on your mast than you can reach by hand. There could also be other ways to re-thread that line in place that I don't know about. I noticed you are also another night shifter. Good luck.
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mikeepp
send a kid
I sent my agile teenage son up in a rapelling harness attached to the main halyard led thru a rope clutch and a winch. He shinnied up and I just took the slack off. Worked fine. He got some nice pictures up there which are in the photo forum. He only weighs about 140#
I sent my agile teenage son up in a rapelling harness attached to the main halyard led thru a rope clutch and a winch. He shinnied up and I just took the slack off. Worked fine. He got some nice pictures up there which are in the photo forum. He only weighs about 140#
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Bill
Unstep
You should not have any problems unstepping your mast while at dockside. As a matter of fact, I think it is more convenient than climbing up and walking around a trailer. Besides, you will have more help than you need once the crowd gathers. Just pass out some adult beverages afterwards. I have done this numerous times with a Cat 22 and 25. Wouldn't go any larger unless I had a hoist of some sort. Use the mainsheet connected to the forestay or jib halyard and let it out slowly after loosening or removing appropriate stays. Someone with hunter can tell you which ones. I would not send a kid up on such a small mast. By the way the rope you refer to is called a topping lift and you may want to check around for various arrangements which might be easier to use while you are at it. Have fun.
You should not have any problems unstepping your mast while at dockside. As a matter of fact, I think it is more convenient than climbing up and walking around a trailer. Besides, you will have more help than you need once the crowd gathers. Just pass out some adult beverages afterwards. I have done this numerous times with a Cat 22 and 25. Wouldn't go any larger unless I had a hoist of some sort. Use the mainsheet connected to the forestay or jib halyard and let it out slowly after loosening or removing appropriate stays. Someone with hunter can tell you which ones. I would not send a kid up on such a small mast. By the way the rope you refer to is called a topping lift and you may want to check around for various arrangements which might be easier to use while you are at it. Have fun.
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Steve O.
topping lift
There are no ropes on a sailboat, only lines. The one you are refering to is your topping lift. If it runs through a sheave at the masthead you can attach the new line to the old and just run it through. tape it or better yet sew it end-to-end to the old one. Calculate the length needed by using the length of the mast, 2 times the mast height plus whatever extra you need for a tail.
There are no ropes on a sailboat, only lines. The one you are refering to is your topping lift. If it runs through a sheave at the masthead you can attach the new line to the old and just run it through. tape it or better yet sew it end-to-end to the old one. Calculate the length needed by using the length of the mast, 2 times the mast height plus whatever extra you need for a tail.
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Crazy Dave Condon
topping lift
Mast has a backstay. If anyone goes up, then the less weight the better but for safety, lower the mast as the topping lift is tied to the top of the mast head. Crazy Dave
Mast has a backstay. If anyone goes up, then the less weight the better but for safety, lower the mast as the topping lift is tied to the top of the mast head. Crazy Dave
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Greg Hartgraves
Best to unstep mast
Replaced my topping lift last year by unstepping mast while at slip. Use a minimum of three people. One at mast, one in cockpit, and one on foredeck lowering mast with jib halyard. Make slow and easy movements. Once the mast is down, move it forward as quickly as possible, since most of the mast weight is hanging out the stern of the boat. It is possible to send a small person up the mast, but is risky. Like Dave said, the topping lift is tied to the top of the mast. Greg Hartgraves S/V Paradise
Replaced my topping lift last year by unstepping mast while at slip. Use a minimum of three people. One at mast, one in cockpit, and one on foredeck lowering mast with jib halyard. Make slow and easy movements. Once the mast is down, move it forward as quickly as possible, since most of the mast weight is hanging out the stern of the boat. It is possible to send a small person up the mast, but is risky. Like Dave said, the topping lift is tied to the top of the mast. Greg Hartgraves S/V Paradise
I did it in the slip and here's what I learned
Last year I had to lower the mast on my H23 to replace the windex. I had no trailer at the time, so I was forced to do it on the water. Here's what I learned: a) two people is not enough. See the earlier post on this. b) try to position the boat so that you can stand behind the transom. The mast is not real heavy but it IS long. Remove the rudder and the outboard so you can get the transom as close to the dock as possible. c) borrow or make up a mast crutch to catch the mast above the spreaders as it comes down. Ideally this crutch should be at least 8 ft long. You have to catch the mast that high up so you don't overload the mast base casting and hinge d) check your mast base casting and hinge. If the hinge is real skinny (mine was) it will break if the mast twists or leans sideways as it comes down. If you pull up on your mainsail halyard to raise the sail, you probably have one of these castings. You may want to consider one of the mast raising rigs like the one designed by Ward N. some time back (check the archives and Photo forum). e) if you have never done this before, don't do it on a hot day. f) check everything in the mast while it's down (anchor light bulb, windex, sheaves, VHF antenna, etc.) g) the upper ends of the lower shrouds are not screwed to the mast. They will fall out as you're raising the mast if you don't tape or plug the holes first. Good luck! Peter S/V Raven
Last year I had to lower the mast on my H23 to replace the windex. I had no trailer at the time, so I was forced to do it on the water. Here's what I learned: a) two people is not enough. See the earlier post on this. b) try to position the boat so that you can stand behind the transom. The mast is not real heavy but it IS long. Remove the rudder and the outboard so you can get the transom as close to the dock as possible. c) borrow or make up a mast crutch to catch the mast above the spreaders as it comes down. Ideally this crutch should be at least 8 ft long. You have to catch the mast that high up so you don't overload the mast base casting and hinge d) check your mast base casting and hinge. If the hinge is real skinny (mine was) it will break if the mast twists or leans sideways as it comes down. If you pull up on your mainsail halyard to raise the sail, you probably have one of these castings. You may want to consider one of the mast raising rigs like the one designed by Ward N. some time back (check the archives and Photo forum). e) if you have never done this before, don't do it on a hot day. f) check everything in the mast while it's down (anchor light bulb, windex, sheaves, VHF antenna, etc.) g) the upper ends of the lower shrouds are not screwed to the mast. They will fall out as you're raising the mast if you don't tape or plug the holes first. Good luck! Peter S/V Raven
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Jim Kolstoe
Topping Lift replacment
Since I have been up to the mast head more than once, and have dropped the mast while in the water, I thought I'd make a few comments. Regarding going up the mast, lighter weight people, who are not afraid of hights and know how to tie good knots can handle it. Use a climbing harness(aka repelling harness) attached to the main sheet. Using the jib sheet as a safety line is not a bad idea. How big a person is acceptable? Last time up, I weighed in at 225lbs. It makes the boat feel extra tippy, but its doable. I don't know how bad it might be for the rigging, except its been a few years and nothing has broken. The biggest problem is if the person tries to remove pin (clevis pin?) the topping lift ties to , there is a considerable risk of dropping it into the water. Dropping it is not overly difficult. I turn my boat stern in and put the mast crutch on the pintels to support the mast. Other than that, its not much different from lowering or raising the mast on a trailer without a hoist, just try not to rock the boat while raising or lowering it. Good manners suggest you also do not leave it projecting over the dock any longer than necessary, particularly if, like me, you are next to the gate leading to shore. Good luck. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo.
Since I have been up to the mast head more than once, and have dropped the mast while in the water, I thought I'd make a few comments. Regarding going up the mast, lighter weight people, who are not afraid of hights and know how to tie good knots can handle it. Use a climbing harness(aka repelling harness) attached to the main sheet. Using the jib sheet as a safety line is not a bad idea. How big a person is acceptable? Last time up, I weighed in at 225lbs. It makes the boat feel extra tippy, but its doable. I don't know how bad it might be for the rigging, except its been a few years and nothing has broken. The biggest problem is if the person tries to remove pin (clevis pin?) the topping lift ties to , there is a considerable risk of dropping it into the water. Dropping it is not overly difficult. I turn my boat stern in and put the mast crutch on the pintels to support the mast. Other than that, its not much different from lowering or raising the mast on a trailer without a hoist, just try not to rock the boat while raising or lowering it. Good manners suggest you also do not leave it projecting over the dock any longer than necessary, particularly if, like me, you are next to the gate leading to shore. Good luck. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo.
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