Mast Removal

[SunCat]

Last year I decided to remove the mast on my 1995 Hunter Legend 35.5. I got a rude awakening when I got the bill for taking the mast down even thought I loosened all the turnbucles and all they had to do was remove the pins. The reason for the hight bill ($700.00) they claim was the time it took to remove the pin that holds the jib furling to the front stanchion, I am negotiating with the marina to lower the bill when they put the mast up this spring, does anyone knows an easier way to install that particular pin?. This pin is accessed thru the anchor well and the space is very limited. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Gene :cry:

 

[Steve Dion]

Obscene! Sorry this is no help, but that is my feeling.

 

[Benny]

Consult a proffessional rigger. He'll probably have some tricks of the trade or be able to provide you with an alternative way of doing the job. If you hire him to tune the riggin after the mast is up perhaps he can oversee the operation and even help getting everything buttoned up. The sooner you can release the crew and crane the least expensive the whole job should be.

 

[Ken Palmer]

Same as 33.5?

The furling drum on my 33.5 is mounted below decks in the anchor locker. The cotter pin was horrible to remove, and what should have been a 15 minute job took over an hour. We stepped our own mast that year, so I decided to do something about it.

I bought a 1/4 inch or was it 3/8 inch SS Bolt, and a nylon insert lock-nut. It was much easier attaching the bolt and nut. I haven't un-stepped the mast yet, so will see how it goes when I do that.

 

[SunCat]

Re: Same as 33.5?

I think that this is the best aproach to this problem, I will try it this spring. Thank you all for the replys.
Gene