I just purchased an 88 Hunter Wingkeel. This is my first sailboat and I dont know "jack" about sailboats or sailing. I need some advice on raising the mast. My first (failed) attempt last night forces me to look for advice. I have very little time and am somewhat isolated so looking for help elsewhere can be a bit difficult. If someone out there has advice for raising the mast I am all ears. E-mail: acrw@bignetnorth.net Thank you Matthew
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
Daniel Jonas
Help
Matthew, Hopefully the seller lives nearby and you can get him to do a basic check-out. Otherwise, you should have included a basic checkout before you bought. And if you don't know Jack, you might want to get to know other sailors in your area to sail with for awhile and let your 23 rest. Lessons are also an option. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije)
Matthew, Hopefully the seller lives nearby and you can get him to do a basic check-out. Otherwise, you should have included a basic checkout before you bought. And if you don't know Jack, you might want to get to know other sailors in your area to sail with for awhile and let your 23 rest. Lessons are also an option. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije)
F
Fred
Raising the Mast
Put your email address on the post or email me with a address and I'll send you a microsoft word document with pictures that came from Hunter. Hopefully the mast raising system is the same with yours.My email address is :fafeagin1@home.com
Put your email address on the post or email me with a address and I'll send you a microsoft word document with pictures that came from Hunter. Hopefully the mast raising system is the same with yours.My email address is :fafeagin1@home.com
K
Keith and Laurie Steward
New owner too
Matthew, We just bought our first boat too, same as yours. We know just a little more than "jack" about boats and sailing. The previous owner took us out and was there as we dismantled the boat to trailor it home. We plan to get it in a slip as soon as possible. My husband and I raised the mast for the first time last night. It was quite a hairy experience but do-able with help. You need to make friends with a tall, strong person. We followed the instructions in our manual (although it was not a great deal of help) Here's how we did it: 1. tie the front stay (wire) to a long rope and run the rope through a snatch block you have attached to the place where the front stay will connect 2. Run the rope down the side of the boat and around the jib wench several times (we used the port side) 3. With one person raising the mast (mostly guiding it straight up), the other turns the wench slowly and the mast raises 4. It gets hairy as the mast goes up and the person guiding it has to straddle the cockpit and cabin but we discovered that slow and steady was the key. 5. When the mast is up, tie off the rope and continue to support the mast (lean on it with your body weight just to keep it in place) while the other person goes forward to disconnect the rope and attach the stay to the turnbuckle thing (I don't know all the jargon yet) Before letting go of the mast be sure all the other stays are nice and tight. Be careful and Good luck. You will need help, but it can be done. Our boat was on it's trailer in our back yard with the trailer blocked and two jacks under the back so nothing would move. Our next big event will be lowering the mast. I'll let you know how that goes unless I'm in the hospital. We'd like to know how it goes with you so keep in touch.
Matthew, We just bought our first boat too, same as yours. We know just a little more than "jack" about boats and sailing. The previous owner took us out and was there as we dismantled the boat to trailor it home. We plan to get it in a slip as soon as possible. My husband and I raised the mast for the first time last night. It was quite a hairy experience but do-able with help. You need to make friends with a tall, strong person. We followed the instructions in our manual (although it was not a great deal of help) Here's how we did it: 1. tie the front stay (wire) to a long rope and run the rope through a snatch block you have attached to the place where the front stay will connect 2. Run the rope down the side of the boat and around the jib wench several times (we used the port side) 3. With one person raising the mast (mostly guiding it straight up), the other turns the wench slowly and the mast raises 4. It gets hairy as the mast goes up and the person guiding it has to straddle the cockpit and cabin but we discovered that slow and steady was the key. 5. When the mast is up, tie off the rope and continue to support the mast (lean on it with your body weight just to keep it in place) while the other person goes forward to disconnect the rope and attach the stay to the turnbuckle thing (I don't know all the jargon yet) Before letting go of the mast be sure all the other stays are nice and tight. Be careful and Good luck. You will need help, but it can be done. Our boat was on it's trailer in our back yard with the trailer blocked and two jacks under the back so nothing would move. Our next big event will be lowering the mast. I'll let you know how that goes unless I'm in the hospital. We'd like to know how it goes with you so keep in touch.
A
Allen Glasson
Trailer Winch Extension
I added an extension to the support that holds the trailer winch. I made a roller and welded it to the top of the extension. Now all I do is run the winch cable through the roller, attach to the fore stay, and have someone crank the winch while I steady the mast on the way up. If you try this, make sure you use heavy enough metal. On my first design, the metal was not heavy enough and bent. I ended up using tubular stainless steel. Next time I'm at the lake I'll measure the exact size and length for you. Good luck!
I added an extension to the support that holds the trailer winch. I made a roller and welded it to the top of the extension. Now all I do is run the winch cable through the roller, attach to the fore stay, and have someone crank the winch while I steady the mast on the way up. If you try this, make sure you use heavy enough metal. On my first design, the metal was not heavy enough and bent. I ended up using tubular stainless steel. Next time I'm at the lake I'll measure the exact size and length for you. Good luck!
M
mike
one more thing
One of the biggest helps to stepping the mast in my opinion is a neat little trick called the "stepping plank". It's simply 2x6's nailed side by side with 2x4's crosswise beneath. It's fitted over the transom and the cabin roof. The objective is to provide a simple walkway while raising or lowering the mast to keep you off the plexiglass or jumping up or down from the cabin roof to the cockpit floor. It quickly makes you taller and gives you a smooth straight path to the base of the mast when raising or to the transom when lowering. The 2x4's need to be placed so that the plank won't slide anywhere while you're walking on it. (IE: both sides of the transom and inside the cabin opening to prevent foreward/backward or sideways movement) Try it! You'll like it!
One of the biggest helps to stepping the mast in my opinion is a neat little trick called the "stepping plank". It's simply 2x6's nailed side by side with 2x4's crosswise beneath. It's fitted over the transom and the cabin roof. The objective is to provide a simple walkway while raising or lowering the mast to keep you off the plexiglass or jumping up or down from the cabin roof to the cockpit floor. It quickly makes you taller and gives you a smooth straight path to the base of the mast when raising or to the transom when lowering. The 2x4's need to be placed so that the plank won't slide anywhere while you're walking on it. (IE: both sides of the transom and inside the cabin opening to prevent foreward/backward or sideways movement) Try it! You'll like it!
J
Joel
Ladders and other halyards
Another alternative to building the ramp mentioned earlier is to use a small ladder. I normally have a small ladder with me to get up on top of the boat while its on the trailer. You can use that in a similar way to the ramp approach. You place the ladder inside the cabin and then walk the mast up the cockpit and then up the ladder to the cabin top. One additional trick that I used last time was using the jib halyard and mast winch tied to a line attached to the crossbar at the bow of the boat. Instead of running the line through a block and then back to one of the jib winches, we tied a fixed lenght line to the crossbar and used the jib halyard on the mast winch to pull the mast up. In that way, we already had a person at the mast steadying and cranking. (This way, we had two people steadying the mast, one lifting from the rear and the other cranking and steadying at the base.
Another alternative to building the ramp mentioned earlier is to use a small ladder. I normally have a small ladder with me to get up on top of the boat while its on the trailer. You can use that in a similar way to the ramp approach. You place the ladder inside the cabin and then walk the mast up the cockpit and then up the ladder to the cabin top. One additional trick that I used last time was using the jib halyard and mast winch tied to a line attached to the crossbar at the bow of the boat. Instead of running the line through a block and then back to one of the jib winches, we tied a fixed lenght line to the crossbar and used the jib halyard on the mast winch to pull the mast up. In that way, we already had a person at the mast steadying and cranking. (This way, we had two people steadying the mast, one lifting from the rear and the other cranking and steadying at the base.
P
Prof
Good news and bad news
Congratulations on your purchase! I too own an 88 H23 and it is a great boat. First, the bad news: The smiling people raising the mast in the owners manual are paid actors! It is not as easy as they make it look! The mast is not very heavy but it is quite tall and difficult to handle unless you keep it perfectly centered. Some H23s have a flimsy base casting that will twist and/or break under a sideways load. The chance of this happening is very high once the shrouds go slack unless you pay very close attention to keeping the mast from leaning off to one side. The first time I lowered my mast, I broke the base casting. This mast is a handful for two people unless you are experienced or you have some kind of system to help you. Now, the good news: Several good mast-raising systems exist and a couple are documented in the photo forum. One of the best I've seen was developed a year or so ago by Ward Niffenegger (hope I spelled that correctly). His system was very inexpensive and maintained postive control of the mast all the way up/down. Final suggestion: Keep the boat in the water for the first year or so if at all possible. The only way to develop your skills with this or any boat is to spend as much time as you can sailing it. Your learning curve does not need the added complication of trailering and mast raising/lowering. If a wet slip is expensive, try to find a marina that will let you store the boat on the trailer with the mast raised. Then you won't have to deal with raising the mast. That can come later. My H23 has been in the water for the last two years for just this reason (even though I have been sailing for many years). I haven't had a whole lot of time to sail it, but I was able to maximize what time I did have. I am getting ready to put it on the trailer for only the third time in two years for some modificatons and much needed maintenance. Good luck and happy sailing!! Peter H23 "Raven"
Congratulations on your purchase! I too own an 88 H23 and it is a great boat. First, the bad news: The smiling people raising the mast in the owners manual are paid actors! It is not as easy as they make it look! The mast is not very heavy but it is quite tall and difficult to handle unless you keep it perfectly centered. Some H23s have a flimsy base casting that will twist and/or break under a sideways load. The chance of this happening is very high once the shrouds go slack unless you pay very close attention to keeping the mast from leaning off to one side. The first time I lowered my mast, I broke the base casting. This mast is a handful for two people unless you are experienced or you have some kind of system to help you. Now, the good news: Several good mast-raising systems exist and a couple are documented in the photo forum. One of the best I've seen was developed a year or so ago by Ward Niffenegger (hope I spelled that correctly). His system was very inexpensive and maintained postive control of the mast all the way up/down. Final suggestion: Keep the boat in the water for the first year or so if at all possible. The only way to develop your skills with this or any boat is to spend as much time as you can sailing it. Your learning curve does not need the added complication of trailering and mast raising/lowering. If a wet slip is expensive, try to find a marina that will let you store the boat on the trailer with the mast raised. Then you won't have to deal with raising the mast. That can come later. My H23 has been in the water for the last two years for just this reason (even though I have been sailing for many years). I haven't had a whole lot of time to sail it, but I was able to maximize what time I did have. I am getting ready to put it on the trailer for only the third time in two years for some modificatons and much needed maintenance. Good luck and happy sailing!! Peter H23 "Raven"
R
Ralph McGraw
Had Same Problem
I finally was able to raise my mast on my 23 Hunter. Thanks to Greg Wilson for "showing me the way". Mast is connected at base lying in the crutch, extending over the stern. (Starting position. Take "main sheet", extend the length of "main sheet" as long as possible leaving about 2' of free line. Secure one end of "main sheet" to a position in bow anchor locker. Do not use the connection for your "fore stay". Reason being you will need that position when mast is up. Connect other end of "main sheet" to your "jib halyard". (When connecting "main sheet" have the free end of line facing towards the bow. Easier to use. ) Take up slack on jib halyard and secure on mast cleat. Now with one person keeping the mast steady and not swaying to side. Have one person start taking in the "main sheet". I found that this worked very easy. Some things to watch for. Make sure shrouds connectors are not twisted and that the shrouds and back stay are free of other obstructions. The last thing is that you might find that you will be taking in the "main sheet" very snug to bring the "fore stay" buckle into position to pin. My wife and I just stepped the mast in place. If you want some photo's, thei taken by someone watching us raising mast, let me know. My E-mail address is SEARAY0301@aol.com. And if any of this didn't thoroughly confuse you you have it made. Good luck and smooth sailing. May you keep your "heeling" to a 15 degree position.
I finally was able to raise my mast on my 23 Hunter. Thanks to Greg Wilson for "showing me the way". Mast is connected at base lying in the crutch, extending over the stern. (Starting position. Take "main sheet", extend the length of "main sheet" as long as possible leaving about 2' of free line. Secure one end of "main sheet" to a position in bow anchor locker. Do not use the connection for your "fore stay". Reason being you will need that position when mast is up. Connect other end of "main sheet" to your "jib halyard". (When connecting "main sheet" have the free end of line facing towards the bow. Easier to use. ) Take up slack on jib halyard and secure on mast cleat. Now with one person keeping the mast steady and not swaying to side. Have one person start taking in the "main sheet". I found that this worked very easy. Some things to watch for. Make sure shrouds connectors are not twisted and that the shrouds and back stay are free of other obstructions. The last thing is that you might find that you will be taking in the "main sheet" very snug to bring the "fore stay" buckle into position to pin. My wife and I just stepped the mast in place. If you want some photo's, thei taken by someone watching us raising mast, let me know. My E-mail address is SEARAY0301@aol.com. And if any of this didn't thoroughly confuse you you have it made. Good luck and smooth sailing. May you keep your "heeling" to a 15 degree position.
K
Kevin
Mast stepping not hair raising?
I haven't done it yet but this is the plan: 1. purchase 2 eight-foot and 2 three-foot sections of 2x4; 2. purchase 2 stainless steel hinges; 3. with a mitre box cut one end of each eight-foot section to a 45 degree angle; 4. connect 1 eight-foot section to 1 four-foot section. 5. repeat; 6. place three-foot sections on deck, determine where the eight-foot section cross, mark, drill 1 hole and connect with 1/4 inch stainless steel bolt and wing nut; 7. you now have a mast raising bipod; 8. connect block and tackle to bipod and deck forestay point; 9. align mast to amidship (not athwartship), attach mast to step with aft pin, attach jibsheet to top of bipod with taught tension; 10. and now the really important part, loosely attach main halyard to mast with short length of bungy cord, attach one large bungy cord to port cleat, thread through main halyard shackle and attach to starboard cleat (this will dampen port-to-starboard sway of mast while (hair) raising; 11. check for clearance in 30 foot horizontal and vertical arc around boat; 11. raise mast (lower bipod) slowly and carefully from bow (with one hand!) while partner checks and clears fouls in standing rigging; 12. attach forestay at bow; 13. remove bungy cord, remove or stow bipod; 14. tension standing rigging; 15. attach boom, retension rigging, bend on mainsail, and if you are in all other respects ready, launch. Aye yours, Kevin.
I haven't done it yet but this is the plan: 1. purchase 2 eight-foot and 2 three-foot sections of 2x4; 2. purchase 2 stainless steel hinges; 3. with a mitre box cut one end of each eight-foot section to a 45 degree angle; 4. connect 1 eight-foot section to 1 four-foot section. 5. repeat; 6. place three-foot sections on deck, determine where the eight-foot section cross, mark, drill 1 hole and connect with 1/4 inch stainless steel bolt and wing nut; 7. you now have a mast raising bipod; 8. connect block and tackle to bipod and deck forestay point; 9. align mast to amidship (not athwartship), attach mast to step with aft pin, attach jibsheet to top of bipod with taught tension; 10. and now the really important part, loosely attach main halyard to mast with short length of bungy cord, attach one large bungy cord to port cleat, thread through main halyard shackle and attach to starboard cleat (this will dampen port-to-starboard sway of mast while (hair) raising; 11. check for clearance in 30 foot horizontal and vertical arc around boat; 11. raise mast (lower bipod) slowly and carefully from bow (with one hand!) while partner checks and clears fouls in standing rigging; 12. attach forestay at bow; 13. remove bungy cord, remove or stow bipod; 14. tension standing rigging; 15. attach boom, retension rigging, bend on mainsail, and if you are in all other respects ready, launch. Aye yours, Kevin.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.