Visit our Popular Forums

sailor Martin · 02-11-2023, 23:43

Ahoy!

I own a 2003 Hunter 356. Made in England. With Selden rigging onboard.

This season is the first time i was sailing it. I have noticed much movement and noise coming from the mast base while the boat is rolling downwind. Seems the mast base is turning in place when the boat rolls and makes a terrible sound repetitively.

Iv examined it and i see the bottom of the mast has 2 pinholes in it. However, it is held to the deck by a single pin. The other hole is empty. Iv tried to insert a pin into the empty hole and discovered it is blocked. After examining more, i notice you cannot see light coming through the hole, and cannot even insert a toothpick through. So the hole is blocked.

Iv asked the previous owner about it but he is clueless. The rigger who did the last dismasting some years ago doesn't remember the details of this job and is generally not cooperating.

Any experience with this system and knowledge on what could have gone wrong here? Or is it supposed to stand on a single pin?

Sailmonkey · 03-11-2023, 04:18

Looks like a single pin in the selden catalog

Click image for larger version

Name: IMG_1699010305.740548.jpg
Views: 38
Size: 140.5 KB
ID: 282996

https://support.seldenmast.com/files...08-e-57-71.pdf

leecea · 03-11-2023, 05:40

Picture #5 (20231103_081833.jpg) shows a gap between the step and the mast. When you say the mast is rotating, do you mean it's moving back and forth as much as that gap allows?

Do you ever notice any slack in the rigging?

I have a 36 that is similar to a 356 but I won't be at the boat for a few days to take a look at our mast base.

BTW, we have had a lot of noise from the bracket where the solid vang attached to the mast. There was a lot of play in that connection and when the boom moved up and down it caused a lot of noise in that fitting. It was especially noticeable downwind with rolling.

sailor Martin · 03-11-2023, 23:59

Thanks for helping!

About the movement, yes, it is rotating clockwise and counter clockwise as much as it is allowed by it's boundaries (defined by the gap). At it's bottom, It seems to be in contact with the flat surface of the mast base and that is where the noise is coming from. I dont think the noise comes from the pin.

Never notices slack in the rigging. It seems to be in pretty good tention.

About the vang, we actually just have a line and not a solid vang. And our noise isnt coming from the vang.

If you are able to send some pics from your mast itll be wonderful, thank you so much!