I am a recent new owner of a 1980 Hunter 27 and need to replace the jammed mast sheaves at the foot of the mast. The access plate is held to the mast by a stainless steel screw. The head of the screw is damaged and it will not turn with a screw driver, despite using a hacksaw to deepen the slot. Does anyone have any ideas how to access the sheaves to replace them? Even if the screw is cut, it still presents a big problem to remove the plate and then refasten it later. Not a good design. I believe the mast is made by Kenyon.
Replacing mast sheaves on H27-help needed!
- Thread starter bobcranmerbrown
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Bob:
You will probably need to drill out the bolt and retap the hole. This is a common problem with the corrosion that occurs between differnt metals (whether you like the design or not) this happens and it is best to coat all screws/bolt with something like Tef-gel to prevent this galling effect.
If you can remove the plate, you may be able to use vise grips or something similar to remove the screw. You should try some of the fancy chemicals on the screw/bolt before you try to remove it.
You will probably need to drill out the bolt and retap the hole. This is a common problem with the corrosion that occurs between differnt metals (whether you like the design or not) this happens and it is best to coat all screws/bolt with something like Tef-gel to prevent this galling effect.
If you can remove the plate, you may be able to use vise grips or something similar to remove the screw. You should try some of the fancy chemicals on the screw/bolt before you try to remove it.
Once you get the plate off, be very careful with the sheave removal... Here's why:
I assume that you'll be doing this while in the water and things get dropped overboard and that would be a problem if you encounter the situation that I found recently. The sheaves at the masthead of my '79 H30 were made by kenyon, now out of business.
If, as I suspect,your mast head sheaves are the same size as the ones at the base, they are no longer available from any known supplier. Your choices will be to remove and rehab the current sheaves (which is what I did), buy a slightly smaller sheave from Rig Rite (very expensive) or take the originals to a machine shop and have them made from scratch (didn't consider this option). So, don't lose the originals!
I assume that you'll be doing this while in the water and things get dropped overboard and that would be a problem if you encounter the situation that I found recently. The sheaves at the masthead of my '79 H30 were made by kenyon, now out of business.
If, as I suspect,your mast head sheaves are the same size as the ones at the base, they are no longer available from any known supplier. Your choices will be to remove and rehab the current sheaves (which is what I did), buy a slightly smaller sheave from Rig Rite (very expensive) or take the originals to a machine shop and have them made from scratch (didn't consider this option). So, don't lose the originals!
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Wow! That's very helpful information. I had expected to throw the old sheaves away and go buy some more. Apparently it's not that simple. (Are boats ever that simple?)
Before you worry about the sheave replacement, I would suggest that you contact Rig-Rite first, if no luck speak with Garhauer Marine. These guys are amazing on what they have available or can make up for you.
You can alway grind off the screw heads and that should allow you to gain access to remove the plate.
You can alway grind off the screw heads and that should allow you to gain access to remove the plate.
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