stepping the mast

[behrmann56]

Hi all,

I just purchased a 170 and in my first attempt to raise the mast I could not get the forestay within about 2 inches of the connection point. My wife was holding the mast but could not bend it forward enough to give me the 2 inches needed to insert the pin. I am at a loss as what to do. The sidestays were already attached by the previous owner. I would also assume there is a way to step the mast by myself but have no idea how to do it. I did not receive an owners manual with the boat so I can't look it up in there. Could a kind sole help me out? I really want to go sailing!

Thank you,
behrmann56

 

[JoeWhite]

It is possible that the backstay turn buckle is twisted. If you untwist the turn buckle you will have the extra lenght you are expecting.

 

[Deadline]

Whatever you do...

Don't try to raise the mast alone. Trust me. Even if your wife complains, keep her in the mix to pin the forestay. As noted above, loosening the shrouds all around will make it easier. Once it's up you can tighten them.

 

[heliBartek]

I'm going to assume that your H170 came with the original shround tenssioners, as supplied by Hunter. Those old chain plates are evil little things and I would, right off the start., recommend replacing them with Johnson lever-style tensioners.

In the mean time you can try moving the pins on the original tension plates to the longest setting possible and then try hooking up the forestay. I remember on my boat I had a similar problem at first although I don't think I was that far off. Have a good look at the rigging and make sure that everything looks fine and nothing is distorted or out of position. Also do a visual chack of the mast once you set it up to make sure that it's not bend in the backward direction.

I always set the mast up by myself with no problems but if the rigging dimensions are not correct it can be a little tricky.
Another thing to check would be the forestay it self. Its not always easy to tell as it runs inside the jib's luff but it's possible to inspect it by running your fingers along the jib fabric to make sure that the cable has not twisted or somehow got distorted internally thus shortening the effective length of the forestay.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

 

[David Hall22685]

It is possible that the backstay turn buckle is twisted. If you untwist the turn buckle you will have the extra lenght you are expecting.

There is no backstay on a 170. However, it is possible that either the forestay is twisted at the top, or one of the shrouds is twisted.

However, the most likely candidate are the shroud adjusters are too tight. Losen them then attach your forestay. I would also recommend replacing them with Johnson shroud levers. Makes life easier.

 

[BlueRunner]

Take a look at the following thread for mast stepping threads.

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=118258

The following is a link to the "quick release levers" I have and they work great.

http://csjohnson.thomasnet.com/item...212?&plpver=10&origin=keyword&filter=&by=prod

Your story was done by my wife and I the first time I stepped the mast. The regular shroud levers were "set-up" by the dealer who sold me the boat. Try as I might, I could not get the bottom of the mast into the hull fitting with the shroud blocks attached. Finally I undid them and that's when things really went to hell. I stepped the mast and then connected the shroud levers (me holding the mast and my wife connecting the shroud blocks. That went fine, but then we couldn't attach the furling jib! That "2 inches" you mentioned! We tried everything. So, then I got the idea of removing the shroud blocks with intention of connecting the jib and then reconnecting the shroud blocks.

So, my wife is holding the mast vertical with her legs around it while I connect the furling jib. It came VERY close to the mast falling forward with my wife screaming she couldn't hold it. If it had gone over, it would have crashed on top of the car and probably bent the mast. Very close call. Finally, we got everything hooked up and it worked fine for the brief 2 months it was in the water (mooring.) IF I had to step the mast under those conditions, I would have sold the boat.

If you rig your boat the way the my pictures show in the link above, you will have no trouble attaching the furling jib as the line from the mast to the pulley gives you a mechanical advantage.

Oh, by the way, my wife ended up with a big blue bruise on her upper leg when the mast nearly crashed.

 

[tpzahm]

In addition to the good advice above, I've often found it of value to grab the main halyard and pull it forward. You can get a better angle for applying force to the top of the mast and thereby creating the necessary tension along the side stays.

*Do* make sure to secure the other end of the main halyard before pulling on the one end. You really don't want to sky the halyard.

 

[BlueRunner]

In addition to the good advice above, I've often found it of value to grab the main halyard and pull it forward. You can get a better angle for applying force to the top of the mast and thereby creating the necessary tension along the side stays.

Didn't think of this solution. I think it would work fine with two people, one holding the mast vertical while the 2nd person pulls the main halyard forward, bending the mast forward enough to secure the furling jib deck connection (which the first person does after letting go of the mast while it's being held forward by the main halyard.) I still prefer my method with the line from the front securely cleated to the mast and holding the mast forward enough for me to then secure it to the deck.

*Do* make sure to secure the other end of the main halyard before pulling on the one end. You really don't want to sky the halyard.

And YES, if you use this method and don't secure the other end of the halyard, you're just going to have to take the mast down and start over.

 

[heliBartek]

And YES, if you use this method and don't secure the other end of the halyard, you're just going to have to take the mast down and start over.

Nothing like stating the obvious eh BluRunner ??? LOL

 

[behrmann56]

I'm going to assume that your H170 came with the original shround tenssioners, as supplied by Hunter. Those old chain plates are evil little things and I would, right off the start., recommend replacing them with Johnson lever-style tensioners.

In the mean time you can try moving the pins on the original tension plates to the longest setting possible and then try hooking up the forestay. I remember on my boat I had a similar problem at first although I don't think I was that far off. Have a good look at the rigging and make sure that everything looks fine and nothing is distorted or out of position. Also do a visual chack of the mast once you set it up to make sure that it's not bend in the backward direction.

I always set the mast up by myself with no problems but if the rigging dimensions are not correct it can be a little tricky.
Another thing to check would be the forestay it self. Its not always easy to tell as it runs inside the jib's luff but it's possible to inspect it by running your fingers along the jib fabric to make sure that the cable has not twisted or somehow got distorted internally thus shortening the effective length of the forestay.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

THANK YOU so much! I went to my local store and ordered 4 quick release levers. I'm sure that will do the trick.
behrmann56

 

[CoolJ]

stepping mast

Regarding the mast stepping issue...my cousin owned one of these before I did and suggested something that works...but I can't say its easy, either. While the boat is on the trailer, take the winch hook off of the boat's bow and hook it directly to the roller furler and slowly crank. Obviously, you have to put the furler on the jib, not the boat, for this to work. This will easily get the forestay down. However, it also brings it forward some, so you still have to push it into place...not too easy. Glad I only have to do it once a season.

2 years ago I rigged the jib on a boat lift. I looped webbing through the furler, then put one side of the loop on either side of the front of the bow, creating a "stirrup" below. Then I ...you guessed it....stepped on in, while fenagling the furler into place.

 

[lokiii]

Just installed some of the quick release levers mentioned above. Worked great--didn't need to winch the halyard to pull the mast forwared as I was doing before. One thing--when pulling out the first pin when you're done, watch out for the snap up. Hit me in the knuckle. I think I scard some children nearby.

 

[heliBartek]

Yeah - those levers, when shrouds are properly tenisoned, tend to have bit of a bite when opening them. I actually have a dedicated work glove I use for that purpose.