Hello-
I hauled out my 1991 Hunter Legend 35.5 last week to replace a long overdue mast base plate and thought I would throw out my lesson(s) learned on the matter since it's a rainy day. This is a deck-stepped mast, the cast aluminum base plate has been showing cracks around the screw holes (yes, I said screws, and not even tapered heads in a countersunk hole) and last summer an entire corner broke off. Pics are attached, it was time to address it...
- found the correct part at Rig-Rite, Inc
- most yards said they wanted to pull the mast off entirely. I'm cheap (I am a sailor, after all) and found a vendor that would just loosen the shrouds/backstay and hang it for a short while so the old one could be slipped out and the new one slipped in (yes, it was successful!). They used a telescoping forklift to accomplish this while the boat was on the hard. There was a ladder involved on the deck to attach the lifting strap and guide it a bit, glad it wasn't me. Plan on cutting the VHF connection, it didn't fit through the channel in the cabin top. There was about 2' of extra cabling to allow for this, many times over.
- the vendor tells me there were two issues with the installation: hex head screws/washers on the topside used in tapered holes) instead of through-bolts (I knew this before we started), and the screws were too large which is really what he thinks caused the problem ultimately. It has been a Pacific NW boat since day one, so I'm sure the blame lies with the yard that processed these arrivals and not Hunter.
That's it, I'm happy with the result (though I haven't seen the bill yet, lol). Feeling much more seaworthy now, whew.
I hauled out my 1991 Hunter Legend 35.5 last week to replace a long overdue mast base plate and thought I would throw out my lesson(s) learned on the matter since it's a rainy day. This is a deck-stepped mast, the cast aluminum base plate has been showing cracks around the screw holes (yes, I said screws, and not even tapered heads in a countersunk hole) and last summer an entire corner broke off. Pics are attached, it was time to address it...
- found the correct part at Rig-Rite, Inc
- most yards said they wanted to pull the mast off entirely. I'm cheap (I am a sailor, after all) and found a vendor that would just loosen the shrouds/backstay and hang it for a short while so the old one could be slipped out and the new one slipped in (yes, it was successful!). They used a telescoping forklift to accomplish this while the boat was on the hard. There was a ladder involved on the deck to attach the lifting strap and guide it a bit, glad it wasn't me. Plan on cutting the VHF connection, it didn't fit through the channel in the cabin top. There was about 2' of extra cabling to allow for this, many times over.
- the vendor tells me there were two issues with the installation: hex head screws/washers on the topside used in tapered holes) instead of through-bolts (I knew this before we started), and the screws were too large which is really what he thinks caused the problem ultimately. It has been a Pacific NW boat since day one, so I'm sure the blame lies with the yard that processed these arrivals and not Hunter.
That's it, I'm happy with the result (though I haven't seen the bill yet, lol). Feeling much more seaworthy now, whew.
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