I just purchase a 87 H23 and have a few questions about the mast. I've heard there were two different type of mast provided on the H23 One I know to be the Z-spar the other I cant remember. One was supposed to be alot heavier than the other, I can't remember which one. How can I identify which one I have. I've noticed some H23 have a white painted mast and my mast and boom are not painted. Also I'm confused on the mast base. All the talk seems to descirbe there being a front and rear pin ( It pivots on the back pin and then you pin the front one once you have it standing._ Mine however just has one bolt directly throuh the center of the base of the mast and the mast base itself has a long slotted vertical hole for the bolt to go into. the mast itself rest complete flat on a plate while it is standing and looks like it wouldn't want to tilt back unless the side stays were loose and would let the mast come up just a bit before coming back. My question is do you step/unstep this type setup any differently? my main concern is do you have to loosen the side stays first so the mast can go up first before it is allowed to go back? I'm sorry this is very hard to describe but maybe some of you will know what I'm talking about. any help ? James
mast type on H23
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Stepping the mast
Hi James, We have a 86 H23 and your mast sounds different than ours. Ours is a Kenyon so I would assume yours is a Z Spar. It would still get stepped pretty much the same way. Make sure the shrouds are connected but loose enough to get the mast up. I had them disconneted once an it went sideways on me and just about ended up in the water. As for the slotted hole with the pin, we had another boat like this and you just start to raise the mast and this will slide back into place as it goes up and once its stepped the slotted hole is now verticle. Hope this helps. Enjoy the boat! Rob Morton S/V Euphoria
Hi James, We have a 86 H23 and your mast sounds different than ours. Ours is a Kenyon so I would assume yours is a Z Spar. It would still get stepped pretty much the same way. Make sure the shrouds are connected but loose enough to get the mast up. I had them disconneted once an it went sideways on me and just about ended up in the water. As for the slotted hole with the pin, we had another boat like this and you just start to raise the mast and this will slide back into place as it goes up and once its stepped the slotted hole is now verticle. Hope this helps. Enjoy the boat! Rob Morton S/V Euphoria
Sounds like mine.
James, Your mast base sounds like the one on my '87 h23. Seems to work fine, although I have a Francespar mast and I'm quite sure it's heavier than the others. Once it's up and the rig is tuned, you don't need or want to loosen the shrouds (side stays) to step/unstep. I don't know what you mean that it looks like it should go forward a bit -- mine's ready to fall aft as soon as the forestay is released. Mac
James, Your mast base sounds like the one on my '87 h23. Seems to work fine, although I have a Francespar mast and I'm quite sure it's heavier than the others. Once it's up and the rig is tuned, you don't need or want to loosen the shrouds (side stays) to step/unstep. I don't know what you mean that it looks like it should go forward a bit -- mine's ready to fall aft as soon as the forestay is released. Mac
Really there are 3 different masts
As you can tell 3 different masts were used on the H23. Kenyon, Z-Spar and Francespar (from what I can tell Francespar is the heavy weight at lest mine feels that way). Check the archives for several GREAT posts on making aids that help you raise the mast. I can do it by my self with no fear of the mast getting away from me and the cost was almost nothing and if any H23 are close by contact them. I share mine with several boats in the area. PS check out the H23 Nationals comming up. Mark Price S/V Wendy Lee
As you can tell 3 different masts were used on the H23. Kenyon, Z-Spar and Francespar (from what I can tell Francespar is the heavy weight at lest mine feels that way). Check the archives for several GREAT posts on making aids that help you raise the mast. I can do it by my self with no fear of the mast getting away from me and the cost was almost nothing and if any H23 are close by contact them. I share mine with several boats in the area. PS check out the H23 Nationals comming up. Mark Price S/V Wendy Lee
Agree with Mark Price re three mast types
You might also try the US Spars website. They have diagrams of the Kenyon and Z-Spar masts. The Z-Spar is the easiest to identify, as it is tapered above the forestay attachment. Gotta go secure my boat...hurricane's coming... Peter H23 "Raven"
You might also try the US Spars website. They have diagrams of the Kenyon and Z-Spar masts. The Z-Spar is the easiest to identify, as it is tapered above the forestay attachment. Gotta go secure my boat...hurricane's coming... Peter H23 "Raven"
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