Raising the H26/260 mast is made pretty simple using the ginpole and mainsheet. However, the pole is pretty light and can flex during the raising operation. Ive stepped the mast maybe 30 times and the shrouds can get hung up if you are not paying attention. Thats how I bent the pole. I just kept pulling and pulling -- put a couple of wraps around the winch and cranked some more - just could not understand why it was so hard until I noticed the ginpole start to bend. Wow! that was a heart stopper! A shroud had gotten hung up. Lesson learned - dont use the winch to raise the mast and if the mast does not go right up, look for something bad happening. Maybe Hunter makes the pole flimsy for just that reason -- its better to bend the pole than break something else? I had the pole straightened but would like to see it a little stiffer. I found that 1/2 inch black plumbers pipe fits inside the pole nicely. The pole is a lot stiffer now but its also pretty heavy and I have to make sure all shrouds are free, or Im sure to break something pretty expensive. Use this tip at your own risk.







Heres a good idea - a crutch tip keeps you from getting stabbed by the pointy end.