New sailor, new boat, new concerns

[CrispyCringle]

The mast has a awful lot of prebend in it if you ask me. Looks like a racing boat tune. I can see why you would have trouble getting the forestay on with it rigged like that. I would definitely ease the side stays for the rig tune, as well as easing them when lowering the mast.

The side stay turnbuckles should not be bent. You can probably get away with it on a boat of this size, but it would make me a little nervous about stress cracks over time. You've got to watch the side stay turnbuckles as the slack comes out of them when you are raising the mast. They get bound up sometimes and you may need to stop and straighten them out before you continuing to raise the mast. Otherwise they get bent. Also, next time you have the mast down, put on a pair of leather gloves and run you hand up the entire length of the stays and give the ends where they are swaged a good look. There should be no frayed strands sticking out. If there is, Id replace. These boats are getting some years and inspecting the rig is a common thing people over look.

My 23.5 did not have the permanent stabilizer bars for stepping the mast like yours does. So Im not sure if its normal for them to have a bent threaded rod where it attaches or not. Im sure Dave can chime in.

I would definitely get the rigging squared away. A demasting is a serious thing, weather stepping the mast or sailing. All of your rigging needs can be had at the online store at this website. When I bought new side and forestays from the store here they were a perfect fit and they just need model type and year, no measuring, or they will ask for more info, like mast manufacturer.

Sounds like your having fun. They are good boats.

 

[SteveHughessails]

Thank you so much for your reply. Everything does seem to be quite tight. I referred to the bend in the mast as rake but was quickly educated. I too thought it was a bit much but was told best to not tune it out as the sail may be fit to it.

I am hooked, to a fault lol
Thanks again

 

[pgandw]

When I bent my lower shroud terminal (like yours are) raising my mast, I chose to replace it before using. I just don't trust a bent threaded rod not to bend further (or even worse fracture and break) under load. And the bend tightened things up enough that it was very difficult to get my forestay attached - had to loosen the turnbuckle to where the terminals were just threaded through the body. Fortunately, Defender Marine was only a couple of miles away (I was on a trailer sail to Long Island Sound), and they had replacement terminals in stock.

Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 #4133 Sweet P

 

[SteveHughessails]

I can see ordering an extra one too
Thank you

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@SteveHughessails
Thank you for the picture but there are many issues.

First, I would suggest a new forestay appx two inches longer. The reverse diagonals or RD 1 as noted in the manual should be attached from the spreader tips to a separate fitting above where the mast raising sbabilizer bar is attached as the RD 1 in the photo shows otherwise. Above the attachment point of the sbablizer bar stbd side, there is a cut in the mast which possibly have aluminum shards hanging that need to be filed away but it’s the depth of that cut is what is concerning as to mast structrat integrity. As for the attachments of the stabilizer bars, you need to replace them as the mast was not properly centered when attaching plus not loose enough either or over tightened.

The lower half of the mast appears to be a little forward with a gentle prebend toward the back. Tuning needs to be redone once you have a new forestay.

Do I have your attention now?

 

[SteveHughessails]

You have always had my attention but now you have my wallets too

I did see the scratch. I didn’t want to look too close I will start there. I will print out the diagrams to see what it is suppose to look like and where/how it mounts properly. There is a definite mechanical disadvantage in the stabilizer RD1 connection area. I thought it’s just going to do the same thing when the bent thread is replaced.

Thanks Dave
I will report back

 

[CrispyCringle]

I too thought it was a bit much (prebend) but was told best to not tune it out as the sail may be fit to it.

Thats doubtful that the sail is cut for that much bend. And if a sailmaker did do that for your type of boat I wouldnt think he knows what hes doing. Its a lot of bend. You will know if its cut for that much bend if you try to raise the sail and it wont go up the last few inches because the leech is too tight.

 

[SteveHughessails]

Thats doubtful that the sail is cut for that much bend. And if a sailmaker did do that for your type of boat I wouldnt think he knows what hes doing. Its a lot of bend. You will know if its cut for that much bend if you try to raise the sail and it wont go up the last few inches because the leech is too tight.

I like your thinking best. Thanks
I'm really hoping to get the sail/s up this year. I may be on my own though
It sounds like a retune will be happening.

 

[SteveHughessails]

OK, I got lucky (again) the scratch is not measurable. I can clean it off with wire wool. That said, there is a scratch or 4 around the top stabilizer mounting hole. I think I'm ok but there is some flex in the riveted halyard straps (?)

I cannot find a slot in the mast for the RD1 T-ball's.

 

[SteveHughessails]

I thought I should post this image with the mast down. It gives a good image of the prebend. The spreaders are not touching the deck.

 

[CrispyCringle]

I dont think it came from the factory with the curve in the mast like that. But I may be wrong. I know my 23.5 was straight.

 

[SteveHughessails]

Nice setup. I agree, looking forward to getting her all setup.

On another site a gent informed me he uses tension release levers on his Catalina. 3 of them he says, backstay and both forward lower shrouds. Think that’s an option for me or too risky?

 

[CrispyCringle]

Nice setup. I agree, looking forward to getting her all setup.

On another site a gent informed me he uses tension release levers on his Catalina. 3 of them he says, backstay and both forward lower shrouds. Think that’s an option for me or too risky?

Ive read about people that rigged up quick releases, and liked it. It would require all new stays (or at least shortened and re swaged) where you add the releases. Not worth the trouble IMO. It's not that hard to rig and derig if everything is right.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@SteveHughessails
Can you tell who manufactured the mast?
Take a clearer picture close up where the red and blue lines assuming they are halyards go thru just above the attached stabilizer bars onto the mast.
The reverse diagonals or RD 1’s, see if they are too tight and advise.

@CrispyCringle Your standing rigging does not have the reverse diagonals on the 23.5 first introduced by American Marine. & Sail Supply at Smith Mountain Lake

Anyone owning a Hunter 240, can you post a photo showing the bottom attachment of the reverse diagonals (RD 1) that runs from the tip of the spreader bar to a point on the mast just above the stabilizer bar attached to the mast and post it here? Thanks

 

[SteveHughessails]

Hi Dave
I found only one label on the mast, it doesn't help us.
Clearer picture, yes. They are the halyards for sure. Stbd side is clearer, both sides are the same.
RD 1's, I feel are not too tight. If I touch my index finger to my thumb around the line and pull, I can easily pull 1 inch each way.

 

[SteveHughessails]

I went searching through all the paper work I received when I purchased this vessel. I found a fax from 2006 from Dwyer Aluminum Mast co. It is details of the mast and boom. Customer: Hunter Marine, Boat: Hunter 240 date: 5-30-97
I can see in the details a 3/8SS bolt & compression tube with nylon washers and right above that 7331 tang. No mention of a t ball slot. I will try and scan it. It's not the greatest fax.

 

[SteveHughessails]

It scanned ok.