Weight of Mast

[George H260]

Hi AllI want to replace the wooden compression post on my 1986 34Ft Hunter this winter. The Marina I keep my boat at is unable to step my mast as they cannot get up to the second set of spreaders and are unwilling to try anything different. So, I was wondering if I was to support the deck inside the cabin with a couple of jack posts near where the compression post is located and I loosened the shrouds to reduce the downward pressure of the mast, could the deck support the weight of the mast and rigging while I did this work?My deck has only come down about 1/4 inch but I'd like to do this ASAP to prevent any further decline.The marina is supposed to be buiding something to step masts but it won't be ready til next spring.It would be very expensive to have a crane come to this very remote location.Does anyone know how much the mast

 

[David11054]

A few hundred pounds

I have never weighed a mast, but I have been part of a crew of three guys who easily carried the mast of a 34 footer.Note that the compression from the stays is the big issue. On our h27, this is about 2 tons. I don't know the tension on an h34, but 4 tons seems likely. If you loosen the stays just enough to hold the mast up, you will have no problem lifting the mast with a jack.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Claude Labrecque]

Mast wieght

Hello George,Were you on the lake this weekend with 25 to 30 knots steady, lake Champlain was an exciting place to be on Sunday!I do not know if what you want to do can be done but here is some weight info.Hunter 34 were at one point equipped with Isomat profile NG46, this might be your's. This profile is around 3.1 lbs/per foot.Spreader are around 1.5 lbs per foot. Wire rigging in 3/8"dia is around 0,29 pounds per foot. Make your own calculations and add around 70 pounds for for the furling gear and other accessories. This does not include the booom which I think you should remove. You should come up with a figure around + - 300 lbs with a small safety margin. As the mast is working in compression, make sure you remove some tension in the turnbuckle while using your jackstands. Make sure the base of the mast always stay in the base plate on deck. You could sail your boat to light house marina marina in Rouses point to unstep your mast . It is only 2 hours away at 5 knots. Hope this will be helpfull.

 

[Steve O.]

Check archives

There have been several articles about this over the years. I'm pretty sure that some have done this with the stick up. I think the mast weighs less than 100#, I know that 2 people can pick it up.

 

[Richard Bryer]

Certainly more than 100#

The weight is certainly more than 100#. I would guess in the 3-400 range for mine, it i sthe Kenyon mast.Depending on how much you need to raise the deck- probably very little- you should be able to slack off and jack it up I would think.

 

[Daryl]

h34 Mast Question

because I was a budget minded Hunter owner I considered the same option to avoid the expense of stepping the mast. Ultimately my mast wiring was a mess so I wrote the check and had the stick pulled. Certainly you can take the mast down in Plattsburgh, Shelburne, Malletts Bay or the Lighthouse marina (or maybe Treadwell Bay). We do it all the time to transit the Hudson river. I am certain the compression past can be replaced using your plan with support near the post area. My concern with that option is there may be rot inside the beam above the post that would cause complications. There were several photos on this site of owners that had to repair the cross beam above the post. Drill a hole in the beam from the forward side and see if you get saw dust or rotten wood mush.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Unstepping is simple and easy

George, while it might be possible to do it with just lifting the mast, it is a whole lot easier if the mast is down, particularly if you have rot inside the beam above the compression post. Plus the wiring might need to be looked at anyway. Your boat being an 86, the mast is probably a Kenyon. The extrusion itself weighs in at 3.47 pounds per foot. With the spreaders, the shrouds, halyards, front and back stay, roller furler, wiring, you are probably looking at 400+ pounds. However,you seem to be in a marina that does not handle too many double spreader masts and they are scared because they don't know how to do it. If you'll tell your marina that you are willing to assume responsibility, un-stepping (and stepping) the mast on the 34 is real easy. I know since I do it 3 times a year because of my location. Do a loop on a long line and run it (lasso style) around the mast halfway between the lower and upper spreaders (about a foot higher than mid-mast so you keep the balance with the weight down). Attach the hook from the crane to the loop. Take the other end of that long line down to the bottom of the mast, tighten so the loop become tight and the crane hook tight against the mast, then tye it below the goose neck.This will keep the hook of the crane from slipping all the way up under the top set of spreaders. The mast will be balanced and easy to lay down on the ground or on supports on the boat. I don't even take the spreaders off for the winter as they provide good support for the tarp.Talk to the marina again. Good luck