I am trying to become a Hunter Trailer sailor. Any tips on models or rigging to raise mast safely and easily on a 23 to 26.5 Hunter?? thanks
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MIke B
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Jim Covey
Go with the newer models
Greg, The H240 and H26/260 models are MUCH easier to rig than the earlier models. That's why I went with the H26. It's great for trailersailors. Good luck, Jim
Greg, The H240 and H26/260 models are MUCH easier to rig than the earlier models. That's why I went with the H26. It's great for trailersailors. Good luck, Jim
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Rick Webb
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Michael Bell
No so bad
Attach, but loosen the side stays. Make sure the short side stays are on (keeps the mast from being blown sideways off the boat – believe me). With the H26, it helps to have someone lift the mast out of the cradle the first few feet. Makes the pull much easier. Watch the stays as you raise the mast. They tend to catch on the stanchions or other items. First few times are kinda scary. Not so bad with experience.
Attach, but loosen the side stays. Make sure the short side stays are on (keeps the mast from being blown sideways off the boat – believe me). With the H26, it helps to have someone lift the mast out of the cradle the first few feet. Makes the pull much easier. Watch the stays as you raise the mast. They tend to catch on the stanchions or other items. First few times are kinda scary. Not so bad with experience.
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Tim P
Lots of Tape
I'm relatively new to the mast stepping process myself, but one good piece of advice given to me is to tape (w/rigging tape) the shroud turnbuckles in an upright position where they attach to the deck U-bolts. This will avoid the problem of having them snag and potentially bend or break under the stress of mast raising. Also, I tape the mast electrical connection wire out of the way to avoid pinching or severing it. By the way, in the anchor locker of my '97 h26, connected to the U-bolt is a short piece of stainless wire with a fitting at the end. Can someone enlighten me as to its purpose? I attach the mainsheet directly to the U-bolt when raising/lowering and don't use this wire for anything. Is it just to connect to the anchor line?
I'm relatively new to the mast stepping process myself, but one good piece of advice given to me is to tape (w/rigging tape) the shroud turnbuckles in an upright position where they attach to the deck U-bolts. This will avoid the problem of having them snag and potentially bend or break under the stress of mast raising. Also, I tape the mast electrical connection wire out of the way to avoid pinching or severing it. By the way, in the anchor locker of my '97 h26, connected to the U-bolt is a short piece of stainless wire with a fitting at the end. Can someone enlighten me as to its purpose? I attach the mainsheet directly to the U-bolt when raising/lowering and don't use this wire for anything. Is it just to connect to the anchor line?
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Ralph McGraw
Still Working on it.
Have been working on stepping the mast since August. Have gotten lots of replies. From "Hunter" I was told that the newer 23.5 models use a "Jib Pole" atteached to the base of the mast as a lever. With the use of your "mainsheet" you would attach one end to the "Jib Pole" and the other to the bow cleat. This enables you to pull the mast up out of the cradle to a more upright position. I have an H23 and don't have the right set up for this method. I am running an extension on my trailer with a roller on the end. I will run a line to the mast, over the roller and down to a hand winch. My wife will work the winch while I guide the mast up to position. Ensuring that we the mast from falling to the sides. Good Luck. Let me know how it works! I am currently working on bottom painting. Searay0301@aol.com
Have been working on stepping the mast since August. Have gotten lots of replies. From "Hunter" I was told that the newer 23.5 models use a "Jib Pole" atteached to the base of the mast as a lever. With the use of your "mainsheet" you would attach one end to the "Jib Pole" and the other to the bow cleat. This enables you to pull the mast up out of the cradle to a more upright position. I have an H23 and don't have the right set up for this method. I am running an extension on my trailer with a roller on the end. I will run a line to the mast, over the roller and down to a hand winch. My wife will work the winch while I guide the mast up to position. Ensuring that we the mast from falling to the sides. Good Luck. Let me know how it works! I am currently working on bottom painting. Searay0301@aol.com
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Ralph McGraw
Stainless line/ Tim P
Tim, Have you got a furling jib on your boat. That extra line sounds like a "Stay" or "Shroud". I had a furling jib put on my smaller boat. The company left the replaced "Fore Stay" in the boat. Use it now for "keelhauling" those unruly passengers or discontented crew members. Looking for more crew member all the time. Don't get any passengers.
Tim, Have you got a furling jib on your boat. That extra line sounds like a "Stay" or "Shroud". I had a furling jib put on my smaller boat. The company left the replaced "Fore Stay" in the boat. Use it now for "keelhauling" those unruly passengers or discontented crew members. Looking for more crew member all the time. Don't get any passengers.
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Tom
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Joe
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Tim P
STAINLESS LINE/RALPH MCGRAW
Ralph - I dont't believe this is a shroud. For one, it's usually buried under a 100+ feet of anchor line. Also, the anchor locker door would have to be left open while under sail which wouldn't work.
Ralph - I dont't believe this is a shroud. For one, it's usually buried under a 100+ feet of anchor line. Also, the anchor locker door would have to be left open while under sail which wouldn't work.
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Gary Bridi
No Problem
I have real many posts about this subject and I think too much is made of it. Raising/lowering the mast is easy, at least for my H23(winged keel - 1992. I use the spare jib halyard and secyre one end to the last cleat. I secure another line of about the same size and strength to the other end and run it through a block that I shackle to the foredeck pit which is forward of the anchor locker. I then run the line to the jib sheet winch. One person handles the winch (raise or lower) and the other guides the mast up or down from the deck. Never had a problem and it costs alot less than some of the devices that I have heard of. Hope this helps, Gary Bridi
I have real many posts about this subject and I think too much is made of it. Raising/lowering the mast is easy, at least for my H23(winged keel - 1992. I use the spare jib halyard and secyre one end to the last cleat. I secure another line of about the same size and strength to the other end and run it through a block that I shackle to the foredeck pit which is forward of the anchor locker. I then run the line to the jib sheet winch. One person handles the winch (raise or lower) and the other guides the mast up or down from the deck. Never had a problem and it costs alot less than some of the devices that I have heard of. Hope this helps, Gary Bridi
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Guest
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G. Ned Christensen
Snigle Handing is easy
Dear Greg, I have a 1995 H26 and just dropped the mast again last week. I am able to drop and raise the mast by myself without excessive force or mental stress. When raising, bring the main sheet back to the winch and crank it up. You can even stop and rest. Letting it down, I stand on the bow and just let it down with the main sheet - just like it says in the owner's manual. I think it is a very well designed system. One modification I made was to replace the original mast pin with one that is slightly smaller in diameter (5/16) and ground a bevel onto the end opposide the head. It makes it much easier to get in and out. I just bought a 5/16 stainless bolt 6 1/2 inches long (I think) cut off the threads with a grinding wheel, beveled the end, and drilled a hole for the cotter ring. It works great. Ned Christensen Second Wind Eugene, OR
Dear Greg, I have a 1995 H26 and just dropped the mast again last week. I am able to drop and raise the mast by myself without excessive force or mental stress. When raising, bring the main sheet back to the winch and crank it up. You can even stop and rest. Letting it down, I stand on the bow and just let it down with the main sheet - just like it says in the owner's manual. I think it is a very well designed system. One modification I made was to replace the original mast pin with one that is slightly smaller in diameter (5/16) and ground a bevel onto the end opposide the head. It makes it much easier to get in and out. I just bought a 5/16 stainless bolt 6 1/2 inches long (I think) cut off the threads with a grinding wheel, beveled the end, and drilled a hole for the cotter ring. It works great. Ned Christensen Second Wind Eugene, OR
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