Mast raising problems

[sprusinski@sbcglobal.net]

I'm a hunter 28.5 owner, and yesterday I noticed a couple on the transient dock adjacent to my slip struggling to raise their mast on their newly purchased 26 foot Hunter. I don't have any experience raising masts, but my wife and I went over to assist them. They had an instruction booklet, but it wasn't very clear on the procedures, so we manually raised the mast. Wow! That's one heavy mast! Anyway, the mast doesn't seem to seat properly in its mount and the spreaders look "cock-eyed". It's disapointing that this couple didn't get to sail it during the Memorial Day weekend. I'm also a little curious why the previous owner didn't show the couple how to properly raise the mast. Anyway, if anyone would like to email this couple on some pointers, it would be highly appreciated. The couples' names are Jeff and Cat and you can reach them by email at CatherineW@ci.palm-springs.ca.usThanksSteve Prusinski[El Elyon]

 

[Dan Connelly]

one solution

I found that the mast pin holes did not line up by about 1/16th of inch. This is enough so that the pin won't go through even with the help of a rubber mallet. I disconnected the mast struts and was able to line the holes easily. The struts are then reattached before mast raising

 

[Mark]

Is it a 26 or a 260?

?

 

[bob]

Something is wrong!

Hey the system works well.. so they have to be doing something very wrong such as the wrong angle on the raising system pole, not using bridle, not prepositioning spreaders on the stays, the pin is tight but it will work if every thing is balanced/wiggled, perhaps the vang toggle needs a little sqeeze to ensure it doesn't bind between the plate screw caps.They got to think out of the box!