I am a very new Hunter 260 owner. I have been reading this forum, looking at various pictures and I have a question about the rigid mast supports that I see on some Hunter 26's. These are supports I see going from the cabin top to about 3-4' up the mast, one on each side of the mast. Some 26's have them and some do not, so are they optional or were they added on newer models. Mine is a 1995 and I don't think it has those supports. Thanks in advance.
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mast struts
Bill: I think there's a difference between a 26 and a 260. I have a 2001 h260, with the struts you describe. They help stabilize the mast whilst raising and lowering it. I think they're ugly and was contemplating removing them once the mast is up, but found them very useful as hand-holds whilst moving about the cabin top, Enjoy your new boat!!! Paul s/v The Lord Nelson
Bill: I think there's a difference between a 26 and a 260. I have a 2001 h260, with the struts you describe. They help stabilize the mast whilst raising and lowering it. I think they're ugly and was contemplating removing them once the mast is up, but found them very useful as hand-holds whilst moving about the cabin top, Enjoy your new boat!!! Paul s/v The Lord Nelson
some do some don't
earlier model 26's had wires vs. the struts. I forget which year they made the transition
earlier model 26's had wires vs. the struts. I forget which year they made the transition
Wires?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but here goes. Should the 'wires' be left in place while sailing? I thought maybe they were there for mast raising/lowering only. Thanks in adavance.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but here goes. Should the 'wires' be left in place while sailing? I thought maybe they were there for mast raising/lowering only. Thanks in adavance.
Wires/Baby Stays
Bill, It depends on your preference. They don't support the mast when it's up, so taking them off has the advantage of opening some space for walking. The only drawback is forgetting to reinstall them for mast lowering.
Bill, It depends on your preference. They don't support the mast when it's up, so taking them off has the advantage of opening some space for walking. The only drawback is forgetting to reinstall them for mast lowering.
Keep them
Keep them on at all times (like the seat belt). I forgot to put the wires on when lowering my mast on my 26, and that was a mistake - big one. A wind gust took the mast half way down and the rivets in the mast foot went off like matches - the mast went ashore by itself. Half way up or down these are the only side way supports you have. toomas
Keep them on at all times (like the seat belt). I forgot to put the wires on when lowering my mast on my 26, and that was a mistake - big one. A wind gust took the mast half way down and the rivets in the mast foot went off like matches - the mast went ashore by itself. Half way up or down these are the only side way supports you have. toomas
Mast Wires
Whether you leave the mast wires on when you sail depends on how often you raise and lower your mast. My mast goes up in the beginning of the season and comes down at the end of the season, so I remove them. I couldn't find them once and tried to raise the mast without them. I now own a new mast. I'll never do that again.
Whether you leave the mast wires on when you sail depends on how often you raise and lower your mast. My mast goes up in the beginning of the season and comes down at the end of the season, so I remove them. I couldn't find them once and tried to raise the mast without them. I now own a new mast. I'll never do that again.
Keeping the stays on
I don't. I have them on my boat -- and I do use them for raising and lowering the mast -- But I don't want to have to step over them trying to go forward. I would think that is dangerous. Yes, you need to do something so you don't forget, but . . .
I don't. I have them on my boat -- and I do use them for raising and lowering the mast -- But I don't want to have to step over them trying to go forward. I would think that is dangerous. Yes, you need to do something so you don't forget, but . . .
H260 Struts vs H26 Stays
Bill, Hope you figured out why the responses might seem somewhat confusing. If I understand what Hunter did, they brought out the H260 model and added solid metal tube struts which are permanenly attached to deck and mast and are not meant to be taken off since I believe the mast system was designed to use them as support. On the earlier H26 models, there were no such permanent struts. However, part of the mast raising system uses two guide wires which attach on the side of the mast and then to the lifeline stanchion. These prevent the mast from swaying to the side when the mast is being raised. These are useful for preventing accidents, but are taken off once the mast is raised. I don't think anyone would leave them one when the mast is up since they add no support. The H260 struts are a different story and need to stay in place. I hope this clarifies the two systems for you and I didn't beat a dead horse!!
Bill, Hope you figured out why the responses might seem somewhat confusing. If I understand what Hunter did, they brought out the H260 model and added solid metal tube struts which are permanenly attached to deck and mast and are not meant to be taken off since I believe the mast system was designed to use them as support. On the earlier H26 models, there were no such permanent struts. However, part of the mast raising system uses two guide wires which attach on the side of the mast and then to the lifeline stanchion. These prevent the mast from swaying to the side when the mast is being raised. These are useful for preventing accidents, but are taken off once the mast is raised. I don't think anyone would leave them one when the mast is up since they add no support. The H260 struts are a different story and need to stay in place. I hope this clarifies the two systems for you and I didn't beat a dead horse!!
Guide wires do provide support.
The guide wires on the 26 do provide support just as your shrouds provide support. The wire restricts movement of the lower mast away from the wire just like the shrouds. Think of them as baby shrouds. You may get away with sailing without them but in a good blow your lower mast can bow to the side. *cry Hunter went to the struts because they provide support in both port and starboard directions on each side, twice the support. Brigg
The guide wires on the 26 do provide support just as your shrouds provide support. The wire restricts movement of the lower mast away from the wire just like the shrouds. Think of them as baby shrouds. You may get away with sailing without them but in a good blow your lower mast can bow to the side. *cry Hunter went to the struts because they provide support in both port and starboard directions on each side, twice the support. Brigg
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