Snow causing mast sag:(

[Bob N]

While checking on my 1985 Hunter 23.5 on her trailer I noticed that the snow cover has caused the mast to sag about three inches. Should I be concerned? I know that the easiest answer would be to remove the snow, but I hadn’t thought of that last fall so it will be very difficult to get it off.ThanksBob N S/V Miss Lisa

 

[John Dawson]

Not on mine

There was a year when I hadn't thought about it yet; the mast was under a tarp, on the pulpit and a stern post with no middle support. The weight put quite a bend on it but I can't see any lasting effects. It looked terrible so I support it in the middle and knock the snow off now. My guess is its bad to stay like that for too long.

 

[Dale Wile]

I was concerned...

I was sufficiently concerned a couple winters after I purchased my 23.5 in 1984 to take steps to prevent excessive sagging of the mast. We had almost 13 feet of snow that winter. I shoveled the snow build-up on the mast several times. The next summer I had a welding shop construct a support device. It has a flat base that uses a pin to lock it into the same holes that secure the mast. A two-inch square tube rises from the base. It supports a U-shaped bracket made of 1/4 inch by 2" wide flat bar stock. The U-bracket supports the mast nicely. I have had no problem with sag caused by snow weight since I started using the support device. I'm not sure of the consequences of excessive weight, but the price of a new mast would suggest taking precautionary measures.