Mast inspection plate

[W.B.Graham]

Help me please, I have some bad connections in the base of the mast and it would be easier to install a mast inspection plate, maybe 3"x3" than put the mast. Does anyone know if this can be done safely or at all? I would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.W.B.

 

[Steve Dion]

Don't know HOW?

WB: Our '85 H'31 came this way, but I do not know if this would be a good idea. It seems to me that if this was not engineered into the mast you are taking a big chance of a catastrophic disaster.I get nervous about drilling hole for a rigid vang let alone an inspection hole/plate.

 

[Gene]

I have one

I bought a used Hunter 34. It has an inspection plate. I dont know if it always did or not. Its handy! I might be able to give you the size if I remember to measure it...maybe tomorrowIts on the starboard side. I will tell you how far up from the deck and the dimensions

 

[Richard Skipworth]

Same Issue

Had the same problem, had to lift the mast ($$) the day after I had it placed for the season. I will be interested to hear the height that the plate is located. My antenna / radar / lighting connections from the deck are not more than 18" - 24" long. I'll be checking the responses!R. Skipworth"Enchantress"

 

[Bob England]

I just cut one

I made the mistake of leading my main halyard out the wrong exit sheave when preparing the mast this spring. ('89 H30G) It didn't run fair to the winch. Rather than motor to a marina and pay to have the mast lifted again, I cut a 2" D hole in the starboard side of the mast, using an ordinary hole saw, about 4" up from the bottom. This gave me access to the halyard sheaves and the wiring connections -- very convenient. For a deck stepped mast, there are no bending forces on that part of the mast, just compression, so I believe that this is safe. However, I recommend keeping any hole as small as possible. A 2" hole is large enought to work with. Cut at your own risk.