Hi All, I just got a 1984 Hunter 31 this summer and the rig hasn't been taken down in at least 10 years. With winter coming soon I would like to take the mast down to re-wire it and to store it this winter. My YC offers a crane that I can step it with but I was wondering if someone could offer me a few tips. First and most important...I need to know the balance point of the mast. It has the standard 2 swept-back spreader rig. Just from looking I would guess that the balance point is above the lower spreader. Any advice for attaching the hoist and lifting the rig would be very helpful. Am I going to have to send a crew member up the rig to attach the crane? Second...does anyone have a good set of plans for building a support for the rig? I'm assuming I will build a couple of custom saw horses for this job. Again...thank you for any advice you can give to a newbie Hunter 31 owner. Cheers, Jim
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Lift It...
...using the spreader joints as a "holding point". Although it may not be the balancing point, it can be handled by one person (other than the crane operator) when the mast is unstepped. Good Luck! I did mine this past summer.
Hint!: If the wires are OK then don't replace them. All I did was replace the antenna, light fixtures, and installed a wind "bird". I used the existing wires as "messengers".
...using the spreader joints as a "holding point". Although it may not be the balancing point, it can be handled by one person (other than the crane operator) when the mast is unstepped. Good Luck! I did mine this past summer.
Hint!: If the wires are OK then don't replace them. All I did was replace the antenna, light fixtures, and installed a wind "bird". I used the existing wires as "messengers".H31 mast step
Ive stepped the mast a few times on my H31. Here are a few thoughts and comments: If you are going to rewire just for the sake of rewiring and there is nothing really wrong, I'd reconsider. The wiring does not wear out, only the connections and fixtures become corroded. If you dont have to step for storage, dont. I only take mine down if there are repairs to be done. In the sprng you will likely be fidddling with the rig most of the sailing season to re-tune it to your satisfaction. My yard grabbed the mast with a nylon strap just below the lower spreaders . This is not the center of mass, but it does stop the strap from traveling further up the mast when lifting. You can easily balance the mast by pushing up or down on the ends as needed. Every season I stored my mast it was either on three plain sawhorses (no need for anything "custom") or atop the boat as it sat on its cradle. As for the latter, we used a pair of 2x4s in an X pattern. The X support sits on your cockpit floor. Set the height of the upper trough of the X to clear your wheel and pedestal guard. Cut the feet so they sit flat on the cockpit floor. Get some carpet scraps and wrap the feet of the X so as not to mar up your cockpit floor. Lash the X support to the pedistal and then lash the mast to the X support, the center guard (over the vents), and bow pulpit frame. If you do take the rig down consider doing the following: add small blocks to the upper spreaders for lazyjacks. Run lines through them that you can reach from the ground. update/replace or at least service your wind speed transducer replace the sheeves at the upper and lower end of the mast. You can get metal sheeves from rigrite.com to replace the stock plastic ones. Its worth it. Add a spare halyard. There is capacity for a total of 4. You can use one as a topping lift and forget the stock TL system. good luck with the boat.
Ive stepped the mast a few times on my H31. Here are a few thoughts and comments: If you are going to rewire just for the sake of rewiring and there is nothing really wrong, I'd reconsider. The wiring does not wear out, only the connections and fixtures become corroded. If you dont have to step for storage, dont. I only take mine down if there are repairs to be done. In the sprng you will likely be fidddling with the rig most of the sailing season to re-tune it to your satisfaction. My yard grabbed the mast with a nylon strap just below the lower spreaders . This is not the center of mass, but it does stop the strap from traveling further up the mast when lifting. You can easily balance the mast by pushing up or down on the ends as needed. Every season I stored my mast it was either on three plain sawhorses (no need for anything "custom") or atop the boat as it sat on its cradle. As for the latter, we used a pair of 2x4s in an X pattern. The X support sits on your cockpit floor. Set the height of the upper trough of the X to clear your wheel and pedestal guard. Cut the feet so they sit flat on the cockpit floor. Get some carpet scraps and wrap the feet of the X so as not to mar up your cockpit floor. Lash the X support to the pedistal and then lash the mast to the X support, the center guard (over the vents), and bow pulpit frame. If you do take the rig down consider doing the following: add small blocks to the upper spreaders for lazyjacks. Run lines through them that you can reach from the ground. update/replace or at least service your wind speed transducer replace the sheeves at the upper and lower end of the mast. You can get metal sheeves from rigrite.com to replace the stock plastic ones. Its worth it. Add a spare halyard. There is capacity for a total of 4. You can use one as a topping lift and forget the stock TL system. good luck with the boat.
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