I am planning to buy a Hunter 23 next year, but I have been reading some reports about stepping and unstepping the mast. Is this a big issue? I previously had a Lightning with a "through the deck" mast, and have launched several boats over the years, but my hunch is that there are some special circumstances to consider with the Hunter. Please advise. Any advice anyone has on what to look for in a used Hunter 23 is also welcome. Indian Lake is shallow, so I am zeroing in on a wing keel. Other than that, I am open and just looking for a good boat.
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Ward
Archives
There has been a LOT of discussion about this subject. The best way to get several ideas and techniques go to the archive section of this website and search for mast stepping. I think you will find several techniques and methods for making it easier. From one who steps the mast every time I sail, I can tell you it is not that bad of a job. Good Luck Ward
There has been a LOT of discussion about this subject. The best way to get several ideas and techniques go to the archive section of this website and search for mast stepping. I think you will find several techniques and methods for making it easier. From one who steps the mast every time I sail, I can tell you it is not that bad of a job. Good Luck Ward
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Dan Ulrich
ILSC
Jon: Email me at danulrich@att.net. I am the Vice Commodore at the Indian Lake Sailing Club as well as a 23 owner. I would be happy to assist you in your quest for information.
Jon: Email me at danulrich@att.net. I am the Vice Commodore at the Indian Lake Sailing Club as well as a 23 owner. I would be happy to assist you in your quest for information.
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Mike Epp
go fer it
I'm another 23 sailor on Indian Lake and love the boat. Two major helps in stepping/unstepping are a jin pole with line to a snatch block on the bow...........and a stepping plank to allow you to easily walk the mast up from the transom to the cabin roof. I'm also at ILYC and would be happy to advise you. We have about 5 H23's on the lake now. I smell a regatta!
I'm another 23 sailor on Indian Lake and love the boat. Two major helps in stepping/unstepping are a jin pole with line to a snatch block on the bow...........and a stepping plank to allow you to easily walk the mast up from the transom to the cabin roof. I'm also at ILYC and would be happy to advise you. We have about 5 H23's on the lake now. I smell a regatta!
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MIke B
mast stepping
Hi , from another indian lake h23 sailor, my wife and I do ours and have for 6 years we are nearing 50 so it is not a big deal, the plusses of the boat far and aweigh <G> out weigh the minuses, regadles of where are going to sail it is a great boat , having said that if you intend to sail at indian lake it becomes even more of an issue, the other cruisers that I know there have boats with swing keels for the most part do not use the swing keels for fear of running in to stumps mud etc, so find a nice h23 and we will help u step the mast , so that you know what a great bunch of people we are, good luck, Mike B
Hi , from another indian lake h23 sailor, my wife and I do ours and have for 6 years we are nearing 50 so it is not a big deal, the plusses of the boat far and aweigh <G> out weigh the minuses, regadles of where are going to sail it is a great boat , having said that if you intend to sail at indian lake it becomes even more of an issue, the other cruisers that I know there have boats with swing keels for the most part do not use the swing keels for fear of running in to stumps mud etc, so find a nice h23 and we will help u step the mast , so that you know what a great bunch of people we are, good luck, Mike B
What to look for (IMHO)
From personal experience, here are a few things to look for: a) make sure the hull and deck are sound. A good set of sails wouldn't hurt either. Just about everything else on the boat can be replaced or upgraded over time at a reasonable cost. More importantly, you will be able to sail the boat while you fix it up to your liking. b) check the trailer carefully. With my H23 I got a MagicTilt trailer that was sadly neglected by the previous owner (the boat was in the water the whole time). Thanks to the hot-dip galvanizing, the trailer frame was solid, but all the exposed steel was badly rusted. For example, the ball receiver (I had to grind the welds out to replace it). I had to replace both wheel hubs because the wheel lugs were completely rusted up and I sheared a few off when I tried to remove the lug nuts (did I forget to mention that I needed new tires?). If you are lucky the trailer will have a spare tire and wheel as well as a spare hub assembly and a decent wheel jack that can lift the trailer with your boat and all your stuff in it. The bunks, carpeting and the bolts holding everything to the trailer frame had to be replaced. There was no mast crutch (the one that mounts on the transom). The boat was in great condition though, especially the interior which was clean and dry. I have it in a slip, so I can work on the trailer at my own pace (it's been over a year now...) c) if you are not too familiar with the boat, ask someone who is to go along with you to check out likely prospects. Looks like there's a whole bunch at ILSC. Good luck!! Peter S/V Raven
From personal experience, here are a few things to look for: a) make sure the hull and deck are sound. A good set of sails wouldn't hurt either. Just about everything else on the boat can be replaced or upgraded over time at a reasonable cost. More importantly, you will be able to sail the boat while you fix it up to your liking. b) check the trailer carefully. With my H23 I got a MagicTilt trailer that was sadly neglected by the previous owner (the boat was in the water the whole time). Thanks to the hot-dip galvanizing, the trailer frame was solid, but all the exposed steel was badly rusted. For example, the ball receiver (I had to grind the welds out to replace it). I had to replace both wheel hubs because the wheel lugs were completely rusted up and I sheared a few off when I tried to remove the lug nuts (did I forget to mention that I needed new tires?). If you are lucky the trailer will have a spare tire and wheel as well as a spare hub assembly and a decent wheel jack that can lift the trailer with your boat and all your stuff in it. The bunks, carpeting and the bolts holding everything to the trailer frame had to be replaced. There was no mast crutch (the one that mounts on the transom). The boat was in great condition though, especially the interior which was clean and dry. I have it in a slip, so I can work on the trailer at my own pace (it's been over a year now...) c) if you are not too familiar with the boat, ask someone who is to go along with you to check out likely prospects. Looks like there's a whole bunch at ILSC. Good luck!! Peter S/V Raven
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Todd Mitchell
Pay and watch
I have no doubt that this could spark many a derisive reply, but let me tell you what a luxurious feeling it is to sip on a cup of coffee while watching the guys from the sailing shop step my mast and tune the rigging! Could I do it? Sure. But consider this: I've seen kids run and hide when their parent(s) are in the middle of stuff like this. With a wee bit of money, I can watch the experts do it while my family looks on with delight. I am cheap by nature, so I don't throw money away without a good reason. This is one of them.
I have no doubt that this could spark many a derisive reply, but let me tell you what a luxurious feeling it is to sip on a cup of coffee while watching the guys from the sailing shop step my mast and tune the rigging! Could I do it? Sure. But consider this: I've seen kids run and hide when their parent(s) are in the middle of stuff like this. With a wee bit of money, I can watch the experts do it while my family looks on with delight. I am cheap by nature, so I don't throw money away without a good reason. This is one of them.
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Ward
It Gets Easier with Practice
I use a tripod (actually a bipod) to assist the raising. At least for us it takes all the worry out of mast stepping. I can step the mast in 20 minutes with my wifes help and 40 minutes by myself. This includes mounting the outboard, attaching sails and launching. If you seach the photo forum for tripod you will see how I built mine. Good Luck Ward
I use a tripod (actually a bipod) to assist the raising. At least for us it takes all the worry out of mast stepping. I can step the mast in 20 minutes with my wifes help and 40 minutes by myself. This includes mounting the outboard, attaching sails and launching. If you seach the photo forum for tripod you will see how I built mine. Good Luck Ward
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Ray Bowles
Mast raising/no problem
Jon; My wife and I just bought a 1995 H26 as our first sailboat. We looked (very long and hard) at everything that was trailable including fixed and water ballast, wing and centerboard. We can raise the mast on this boat in 10 minutes max. and fully rig, load up, launch and sail with-in 1 hour. The reverse is the same, only it sometimes takes 2 to 3 days for us to make-up our minds to do this. The water ballast/centerboard vs. a wing keel design reduces your trailer towing weight by 500# to 1200# and allows you to launch in a great deal less water than a wing keel. Centerboards also fold back and therefore don't harpoon themselves in the mud as early as wing-keels. Our 1/2 ton pick-um-up truck (2 wheel drive)pulls and launches our boat with-out trouble. Good Wind, Good Luck
Jon; My wife and I just bought a 1995 H26 as our first sailboat. We looked (very long and hard) at everything that was trailable including fixed and water ballast, wing and centerboard. We can raise the mast on this boat in 10 minutes max. and fully rig, load up, launch and sail with-in 1 hour. The reverse is the same, only it sometimes takes 2 to 3 days for us to make-up our minds to do this. The water ballast/centerboard vs. a wing keel design reduces your trailer towing weight by 500# to 1200# and allows you to launch in a great deal less water than a wing keel. Centerboards also fold back and therefore don't harpoon themselves in the mud as early as wing-keels. Our 1/2 ton pick-um-up truck (2 wheel drive)pulls and launches our boat with-out trouble. Good Wind, Good Luck
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