Hi All, I just purchased a 2000 Catalina 18 last weekend and transported it across the Rocky Mountains to my home in SW Denver. This weekend, I intend to re-rig the boat post-transport for the first time. Most likely, it'll only be me and one (possibly two) other people. I think I'll be in pretty good shape, but I'm a little concerned about stepping the mast for the first time. When we dropped the mast, we we left the back-stay on, and only loosened two of the four shrouds before un-doing the fore-stay at the bow. It came down pretty easily with one person holding a line way out in front of the bow to ease the weight, and a third person aft who guided the mast into the holder attached to the transom.
Any advice on reversing this process? Maybe I'm overly concerned and it's no big deal, but this is my first sailboat (I've sailed before, but never owned one) and I'd prefer not to damage the mast on my first time putting it up. I've already scoped out some previous posts on this topic and am considering making a gin-pole, but I'm going to try it this first time without one.
Thanks in advance!
Any advice on reversing this process? Maybe I'm overly concerned and it's no big deal, but this is my first sailboat (I've sailed before, but never owned one) and I'd prefer not to damage the mast on my first time putting it up. I've already scoped out some previous posts on this topic and am considering making a gin-pole, but I'm going to try it this first time without one.
Thanks in advance!