I sent Ronnie a personal email but no response back. So let me set the record.
Originally the Hunter 26 came with the Z Spar mast and boom located in Gainesville. Kenyon Isomat was a separate company located in Charlotte, NC which use to supply Hunter with masts. Z Spar purchased Kenyon Isomat with the employees being laid off in both factories. Only 4 from Z Spar went to Charlotte as the Z Spar facility in Florida was closed which was not a good move by the owners in France. One thing led to another and production in Charlotte for the z spar and Kenyon Isomat customers/manufacturers could not keep up production with only four on staff that many dealers sat on new boats without masts for months hurting sales. Selden then approached Hunter which went with them and the rest is history with a good working relationship initially with the large masts. Z Spar left the country owing a lot of folks. In the meantime, the employees under the old Kenyon Isomat reinvented themselves as a new company called Charleston Spars back in the same facility in Charlotte using the old Kenyon Isomat masts. During this time for smaller masts to include the Hunter 26, Hunter Marine used Charleston Spar(Kenyon Isomat) and Dwyer masts. Later US Spars opened in the old facility in Gainesville, FL. selling Z Spar product as US Spars is owned basically by Z Spar.
Ronnie, I asked for additional information so I could be sure before you go off and spend more monies and screwing up the plate welded to the mast compression post.
RGRANGER, IF YOU ARE READING THIS, PLEASE TAKE A PHOTO OF YOUR MAST FOOT AND MAST STEP SO I CAN BE SURE WHICH WOULD BE APPRECIATED TREMENDOUSLY.
What I think you have is one of the masts from Charleston Spar aka Kenyon Isomat which the plate welded to the compression post was welded with tabs so effectively serving as a mast foot as well. The easiest method is to cut the tabs off or grind them down and file smoothly. Then attach the mast foot received from US spars by drilling thru the stainless steel and tap them with the correct thread for the four bolts to attach that foot with. This will not alter the rigging at all but I am not sure. THIS IS WHY HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PHOTOS WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THE JOB IS DONE CORRECTLY.
I KNOW THE 26 INTRODUCING IT AND SOLD TOO MANY OF THEM PLUS WORKING ON THEM MYSELF WHICH IS WHY I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. IN ADDITION I USE TO BE AN INVESTIGATOR WHICH IS WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU GO AND DO ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE OF WHAT I HAVE POSTED HERE.
