Replacement of mast pin

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E

Ed Childres

Has anybody replaced the mast hinge pin on their H260 with the mast up? What problems should I anticipate if I choose to do this? The lake where we have our boat docked on is 3.5 hours away from our home and isolated from any stores with a real selection. I forgot where I placed the mast pin from our last trip and the only temporary pin I could find was a 6" plain steel bolt. If I had of been able to purchase a 4" stainless bolt with nylon locking nut I would leave it alone for the season. But this toe catching sure to rust temporary has got to go on our next visit. As I remember it the mast base and cabin top plate have a keyed type relationship. The standing rigging is holding the mast in place so this connection is in compression. I am thinking that because of this compression I will need to drive the pin out. So by default if I use the "real" pin to drive out the "temporary" pin the base will continue to be connected the entire time I do this replacement. Anything wrong with this thinking?
 
Jun 2, 2004
252
hunter 260 Ruedi Res.
makes sense to me

I think I would loosen the forestay first to take some load off the pin.
 
B

bob G.

Wedge

Changed one in place on an O"day 240 with little problem, I would suggest you have a wooden wedge in hand when you do it in case the mast settles, you can tap wedge in to raise, per Ruedi loosen forestay
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,612
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Why Not Just Lower the Mast?

It will probably take less time to wower the mast and raie it again than trying to get the bolt out and drive the new pin in. Not to mention the damage it may cause the casting.
 
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Benny

Take the mast down!

Why force something and risk damage when all you have to do is take the mast down.
 
May 24, 2004
150
Hunter 23.5 Cypremort Point, LA
It might work, but then again..........

It might not. Why take the chance of screwing something up and possibly causing damage to your boat and/or someone elses. That base is just cast aluminum. The ease of raising and lowering the mast was one of the numerous selling points for my choosing this model. Don't take the lazy way out. Call Hunter and order a new pin and lower the mast.
 
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Vern

My mast plate cracked at the dealer

When he was demonstrating the mast raising system. One of the pulleys slipped under the mast unnoticed and that was all it took. The dealer replaced the plate. We didn't force it and it still cracked. That must have cost the dealer a good deal of time and money.
 
S

Steve Gully

Suggestion for the Pin

I repaced the bolts on my Hunter22 with a stainless bolt much as you are trying to do. I purchased a bolt and ground off most of the threads. This made it easier to put in and remove. I drilled a hole near the end and used a locking ring. I didn't like getting the tools out to remove the locking nut on the old bolt.
 
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