mast shifting

[sailboatman35]

ok here is the deal i bought a hunter 31 that had no mast i found a mast off of a 1978 pearson can i get the pearson mast to fit my hunter or am i screwed with no mast agine somebody give me some in put on to make this mast to work

[Jeff_H]

I believe that the mid-1980's Hunter 31 was one of the first Hunters to use a B&R rig, which was characterized by swept back spreaders and an extra set of diagonals in each panel. This was a pretty unique rig that reduces the loads on the shrouds, allows precisely controlled mast bend and provides spar rigidity without forward lowers and allows a smaller/lighter rig. By comparason the Pearson spar is pretty primitive and probably not suitable no matter what you do to it. Regretably the B&R rig is not one that would be easy to buy at just any spar shop.

I would suggest a few options:

First, Hunter actually has very good customer support, so you may approach them and get a price.

They used to contract out their spars so you might ask if they can refer ypu directly to their spar maker.

Regretably, a new rig may end up costing more than the whole boat is worth, which is not all that unusual for an older, low value boat.

Another option is that the Hunter 31 was a very high production number boat and many were around the Gulf of Mexico, so you may be able to track down a spar from a boat lost in one of the hurricanes. You will need to inspect the new mast carefully, as any rig that has been on a boat that was sunk has potentially been subjected to loads beyond its original design intent.

Good luck

Jeff

[sailingdog]

You bought a sailboat without a mast or rigging??? I hope you got the boat for free. The mast and rigging often comprises a major portion of the value of a boat. Do you know what the specifications for the mast for the Hunter 31 were supposed to be? What year and make is the Hunter? What Pearson can you get the mast from? Size matters.

As JeffH points out, the newer Hunters have a somewhat unique to them rig.

More information is preferable and useful compared to less. Read the post in my signature.