What does the bottom of the mast look like on Hunter 26.5?

[MysticSunCrew]

We just purchased a 1988 Hunter and stepped the mast for the first time. It seems like something is missing or wrong with the bottom of the mast. Ours "feels like" it isn't supposed to be the way it is. It's hollow at the bottom (with a gouge in the portside aft corner where it looks to have gotten broken on the ?cleat? sticking out of the ?mast foot?. (Forgive my newness to sailing terms!) It seems like it should have some sort of plug in the bottom which would have prevented that gouge. The ?foot? has 3 ?cleats? that the mast fits over perfectly, but we felt that the mast was going to attempt to topple until we got the fore stay on and the shrouds tightened.

Also, the ?t-ball? that holds the shroud towards the masthead appears to need some pin that goes through it for ?extra security?, but there was nothing onboard that looked like it would have worked.

Also, it appears that there should be a lower shroud that would also have the ?t-ball? attachment that attaches just below the spreader, but there was no such monster on the boat. There was, however, 2 u-bolts with cables then lines that were mounted about 2' above the spreader.

Does anyone have any feedback they can offer before we make the dangerous mistake of trying this out on the water without having a properly secured mast? Thanks so very much!

Debi & Tim
debiq1830@gmail.com

 

[John A12737]

Welcome to the 26.5!! It's a great sailing boat, and we really like ours.
The mast is hollow, allowing the halyards and electrical to run up the mast. It is also unstable until the forestay and shrouds are tightened. Tuning them improves the sailing characteristics.
I hope to be on mine next weekend, and will look at it, to see if I can get some answers.
Some pictures would also help.

 

[isaksp00]

Re: What does the bottom of the mast look like on Hunter 26.

I have a 23, which is likely similar to the 26.5. If it has one set of spreaders (look at photos of other 26.5 boats in the boat info section of this forum), it almost certainly should have lower (inner) shrouds that go from a t-ball or similar fitting down to the inner attachment on the chainplates at the deck - that's the way the 23 works. I would not raise the sails without those inner shrouds.

Also, the 23 mast has a cast aluminum fitting that is riveted to the bottom of the mast extrusion (the hollow aluminum tube that is the mast). That fitting has holes that allow it to be pinned to the fitting on the deck, so the mast can hinge up as it is raised. I can't tell from your description if maybe a fitting like that is missing from the base of your mast - a photo would help.