Mast Climbing on a 23?

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Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
The mast on the H23 is so easy to step I don't know why you would consider this. I've tried the Mast Mate and didn't like it at all. It needs the main to be removed from the mast track. By the time you go through the motions of installing it you could have had the mast down. The very best way to go aloft is a climbing harness and a pair of ascenders. Don't waste your money.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Dido Alan

note the height of his head compaired to the mast head. Going to need a mirror to see anything useful. He is also going to get really tired working over his head.
There are cheaper better options iven if you can't step the mast easily. A swiss seat and some foam rubber work well in a pinch and all you need is a 10' length of rope and a shackle.
 
C Jones

C Jones

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Aug 5, 2009
333
Hunter h23 Dallas Tx.
Check around and see if any marina close to you has a tower to climb up
If not just lower the mast
 
isaksp00

isaksp00

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Apr 27, 2010
1,279
Hunter 23 Lake Wallenpaupack
Never tried climbing, as I've been able to do maintenance while unstepped, and in my one season of ownership did not have to do anything after it was up. However, I'd be a bit leery of going up that mast while afloat - I'd wonder how stable it would be. Not that you'd flip, just that the weight might make it sway a bit, which wouldn't make work up there too easy.
Peter
 
R

RLW

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Jul 25, 2010
9
Hunter 23 Middleburg, Florida
It's so easy to take the mast down, safer, and would be easier to work on anything with it laying down. Save the money and buy something else for the boat.
 
MrUnix

MrUnix

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Mar 24, 2010
626
Hunter 23 Gainesville, FL
njmedic3306 said:
I am new to sailing but this looks like a handy tool to have. Is the Hunter 23 too small to attempt this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/35-f...at_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item3f068c6691
Click to expand
Would not be bad to have in the event of an emergency I guess.. something like a fouled jib halyard up top or similar. One advantage I can see over something like a bosun's chair would be that you can single-hand it instead of needing another (or two) helpers. However, on a boat designed to have it's mast stepped, it's probably overkill to have on board.

Plus, if you have ever had the pleasure of going up a stick, you will forever avoid ever having to do that again unless absolutely necessary :)

Cheers,
Brad
 
M

mikeepp

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Jun 2, 2004
18
- - indian lake
get a kid

I had my son up the mast of my H23 once. He was a light weight teenager. Put him in a climbing harness and clipped him into the main halyard. Winched him up easily. Of course it's a good idea to hook in a secondary line (jib). He took a nice picture down from the top. I think you might still find it in the archives here. I had my boat tied off in a slip to prevent the sideways sway.
 
A

American Marine and Sail

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Sep 25, 2008
15
The best advice is to take the mast down as you have a simple and easy mast raise system. If you take a heavy person up a smaller fractional rig, it may very well break at the spreader area. Like a damn dummy, I did that and the mast broke and I fell several slips over. I was lucky as God did not want me to die. Take the mast down and do not listen to those fools who say otherwise.

I designed that mast raise system and I am the Godfather of the Hunter 23.5. Listen to what I say.

Crazy Dave Condon
 
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