up the mast

[Davor Kusec]

Has anyone gone up the mast on a hunter 23 (wing keel) to change the steeming light bulb while the the boat is in the water?

 

[Jon Bastien]

Hmmmm...

I've never gone up the mast on my 23, and I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable doing so... The mast for my 23 gets narrower as you get closer to the top, and I'm not sure it would support me if I went any more than about half way.  I think my weight at the top combined with the rocking of the boat could cause it to buckle somewhere in the neighborhood of the spreaders. 29 feet is a long way to fall to the deck! Maybe you could find someone to help lower your mast?--Jon BastienH23 '2 Sheets to the Wind'Key West, FL

 

[Davor Kusec]

to Jon

I am talking about going to the steaming light only, not all the way to the top. The light is located just above the speaders. I was thinking of leaning a ladder on the mast at the speaders and am conserned about the overall stabilty of the boat. It only had 850# of cast iron keel. Has anyone done this?????

 

[Jay Hill]

Get Assistance

I suggest you get help to make sure the boat is stable. Leaning a ladder is fine, even going up on a halyard is ok. I'm 230 lbs and have been up on boats as small as 18. The rig can handle it IF, and I stress IF, the boat stays straight (vertical). Lean over too far and it's really hard to hold on. Get a buddy to hold the boat by the shrouds while you go up the ladder. Works great.Jay