Mast Raising from Dock vs. Trailer

[Tim Moylan]

I have been raising the 240 mast while the boat is on the trailer for the past few years. Been successful but the heights are somewhat intimidating. Now I have access to a dock and am thinking about raising it from there. Any comments about pros or cons of rigging from a dock? Thanks, Tim

 

[Chief RA]

My only thought is it would not be as steady while floating. I do know what you mean about being up high on the trailer as I have a fin keel 250! The deck is about 10' up. Chief

 

[caguy]

Just the obvious one of somebody creating a big wake at the worst possible time.

 

[nola2172]

We raise ours while still on the trailer. That way nothing is moving around when we are doing it. It does not matter how calm it is, boats like to move around while in the water, especially when people are walking around on them and pulling on things. Heck, we even put the jib on the furler (CDI furler) while still on the trailer because it is easier to do there when someone can stand in front of the boat on the ground to pull the internal halyard down.

While I agree it does feel like you are pretty far off the ground (probably 6 feet or so), the platform is a lot more stable.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I raised many of the 240 masts on the water. No issue unless some careless power boat comes by waking the boat but most important, have a spare clevis pin in the event that you drop yours overboard.

 

[Kermit]

careless power boat.

Careless power boat. Similar to saying frozen ice.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Here are the issues I've had at the dock;
1. Drop a tool and it is gone!
2. Mast overhang. You need plenty of room aft when you push back to pin the mast.
3. Public dock. Impatient power boat owners. (this happens in the parking lot too, so I guess its a wash)

 

[Tim Moylan]

Thanks to all for your feedback.
I opted to raise the mast from my dock and it went very smoothly. Maybe not the same for everyone but the ability to stand on a dock to pin the cdi furler vs. the trailer balancing act was much more comfortable.
BTW - Crazy Dave was prophetic since I did drop the clevis pin in the water (had a spare between my cheek and gum)! But getting his advice on all these posts is worth the temporay frustration for the permanent improvement! Thanks Dave.

 

[justsomeguy]

snip- (had a spare between my cheek and gum)! -snip.

I like this guy.

 

[Gene Neill]

The wife and I recently stepped our mast while tied off to a marker in the Steinhatchee river. In order to keep the trailer out of the salt water, we'd gotten the boat lifted into the river, upstream of a 27' bridge.

It was pretty easy, except that halfway through the critical "raising" part, the mast crutch came to life, and leaped off the transom and into the river. All by itself, on my soul. It had drifted around a corner and out of sight (outgoing tide) by the time we got the shrouds and forestay fastened and could take off after it.

We did retrieve it at least. The wife was kinda frazzled, but I thought under the circumstances we did well.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Dixiedawg;

If trailering a lot and launching into salt water with the trailer, the key sir is to rinse off the trailer afterwards and that includes the boat as well. Never was an issue from the beginning of the Hunter water ballast to the very last waterballast Hunter 27 Edge that I sold.

 

[Zzzzzz]

Dixiedawg;

If trailering a lot and launching into salt water with the trailer, the key sir is to rinse off the trailer afterwards and that includes the boat as well. Never was an issue from the beginning of the Hunter water ballast to the very last water ballast Hunter 27 Edge that I sold.

Hopefully you can squeeze more waterproof grease into the bearings. If you just do it every time you go into saltwater, it will probably be OK. But if you have trailer brakes that you will have to wash that out. And don't forget about your lights. Its actually better to get them up above the water if you can.

 

[Sullyd78]

Once the mast is raised does the bottom of the mast lay flat/flush on the base? Sorry for using the quick reply but this has bugged me since I bought my h240. Please be gentle I'm a novice and I just want to make sure the rigging is right

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Rarely will it sit and I sold nearly 20-25% of that production line as a former dealer.

 

[Kivalo]

I have a 260 and I would prefer to raise the mast on the trailer but I would have no issue if I had to do it on the water. Obviously you have to be conscious of the wave action and you need to be more cautious of dropping something overboard.