Mast raising Gin Pole for a 22 Macgregor

[FloridaSailor1949]

I recently built a modified trailer winch operated gin pole. It only requires three pieces to construct. A pole - square, round, or channel. I used channel. An inexpensive trailer winch from Harbor Frt. as well as a pulley from there as well. I stabilize the pole with quick adjust tie downs - so easy to use - no cranking, just a thumb adjuster. I will post 2 pics with more coming later - for close up views.
These two pictures posted side ways - don't know why?

 

[woodster]

I recently built a modified trailer winch operated gin pole. It only requires three pieces to construct. A pole - square, round, or channel. I used channel. An inexpensive trailer winch from Harbor Frt. as well as a pulley from there as well. I stabilize the pole with quick adjust tie downs - so easy to use - no cranking, just a thumb adjuster. I will post 2 pics with more coming later - for close up views.
These two pictures posted side ways - don't know why?

as for the sideways problem you have to open up your pics in your file and turn them the correct view and store them in that position then add them to your post

 

[justsomeguy]

Nice!

But I have one question; it may be just an illusion, but it appears that your shrouds are twisted?

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

It may be an illusion. I have the top or upper shroud connected forward and the lower or mid mast shroud connected aft. I hope that is the correct position?

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

thank you !

 

[justsomeguy]

It may be an illusion. I have the top or upper shroud connected forward and the lower or mid mast shroud connected aft. I hope that is the correct position?

It may be a "six of one, half-dozen of the other" situation, but technically, no. With our swept back spreaders, and I'm pretty sure yours are, too, the uppers should connect aft.

Here's the manual.

 

[Brian S]

I'm thinking a gin pole setup is more secure if the mast is rigged with baby stays of some type, to prevent lateral movement during the hoist. More important that bracing the gin pole.

For a belts and suspenders mindset, I have seen rigs that have baby stays on the mast AND the gin pole.

If the gin pole sways a bit, might not be so bad as if the MAST swayed, potentially enough to wreck a tabernacle bracket. Come to think of it, I doubt the gin pole would sway at all, given the mast is well guyed by baby stays pivoting in the same plane as the mast pivot.

Mind you, these are just impressions and thought exercises after seeing a bunch of gin pole setups. My mast is light enough I can muscle it up and down with the help of a very tall mast crutch...

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

Thank you. Yes, I do use baby stays. I use quick release straps as it seems to be very easy to adjust tension if need be. I only use the side (port and starboard) stays on the gin pole to keep it in place while I set it up. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't need them. But as you stated - belt and suspenders - is a good idea. I'm all about a back up for my back up.
The fist time I brought down the mast without the baby stays, the mast shifted to one side. Not a good feeling as it does so at will, so to speak.
I installed two cleats port and starboard on the cabin top aligned with the mast to attach the baby stays. However, I have noticed that raising or lowering the mast, several minor adjustments must be made to tighten or loosen the baby stays. I like the quick release straps for this type of interim adjustment.

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

Thanks for the manual. I double checked and I do have them as the manual stated. I made a mistake when I wrote the reply.

 

[topcat0399]

Thank you. Yes, I do use baby stays. I use quick release straps as it seems to be very easy to adjust tension if need be. I only use the side (port and starboard) stays on the gin pole to keep it in place while I set it up. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't need them. But as you stated - belt and suspenders - is a good idea. I'm all about a back up for my back up.
The fist time I brought down the mast without the baby stays, the mast shifted to one side. Not a good feeling as it does so at will, so to speak.
I installed two cleats port and starboard on the cabin top aligned with the mast to attach the baby stays. However, I have noticed that raising or lowering the mast, several minor adjustments must be made to tighten or loosen the baby stays. I like the quick release straps for this type of interim adjustment.

Your mast baby stays go slack while raising and lowering because the cleats you attach baby stays to are not at the same pivot point as at the base of the mast. If they were the stays would stay tight the entire arc of mast travel. There are various ways to solve that problem.

 

[Joe]

I recently built a modified trailer winch operated gin pole. It only requires three pieces to construct. A pole - square, round, or channel. I used channel. An inexpensive trailer winch from Harbor Frt. as well as a pulley from there as well. I stabilize the pole with quick adjust tie downs - so easy to use - no cranking, just a thumb adjuster. I will post 2 pics with more coming later - for close up views.
These two pictures posted side ways - don't know why?

if you're posting from a smartphone, either turn off the auto rotate feature or re orient the picture in your file with your system's photo editor app.

 

[rgranger]

That is interesting. I wonder if I could modify that to work on my Balboa 26? I don't really like the gin-pole set up that came with my Balboa 26. The way the Balboa is set up, the boom doubles as the gin pole and there is a slot on the front of the mast for the boom's gooseneck. I keep the gin-boom stabilized with tow straps. You run a line back to the cockpit from the bow and use the winch to bring it up. The last time I hoisted my mast, the goose neck broke, the mast came crashing down and luckily for me... I had a strong "boom crutch/radar arc" contraption that caught the mast before it hit me. I had to build a new "arch" but that was not a big deal. My arch holds my GPS and VHF antennae and doubles as a mast crutch.

 

[Joe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBNSyhnfo4E hers is a commercial version...made by MacGregor I believe.... http://www.tropicalboating.com/2010/04/the-perfect-solo-mast-raising-system-for-small-sailboats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6UOG5AI9Ic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfYTiKryKBc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li7SadZL8ek I like this one best. You can leave it rigged on deck if you like... the mast crutch can be attached to transom with separate hardware, as author mentions in comments.

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

I believe you could use my system on most any sailboat. I would be more than willing to give you my bump and thud experiences in building mine. Al

 

[rgranger]

I believe you could use my system on most any sailboat. I would be more than willing to give you my bump and thud experiences in building mine. Al

Thanks FS: I believe you are correct. I have an electric winch in my shed that I'm not using and I could see a way to run a line through some blocks and let the electric winch do all of the work for me.. :dance:

Could you post a close up shot of the gin-pole base? How did you secure the base to the deck and does the gin-pole create a lot of pressure on the deck as you raise the mast?

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

22 Macgregor Gin Pole Pics and comments

Thanks FS: I believe you are correct. I have an electric winch in my shed that I'm not using and I could see a way to run a line through some blocks and let the electric winch do all of the work for me.. :dance:

Could you post a close up shot of the gin-pole base? How did you secure the base to the deck and does the gin-pole create a lot of pressure on the deck as you raise the mast?

Here are some answers to your questions.
1) The only securement of the gin pole mast to the base is a piece of 2 X 12 Board which I chiseled a square inset (only 3/8 in. deep) to accommodate the gin pole. Since there is only downward pressure on the gin pole the 2 x 12 board spreads to associated pressure over a larger area on the deck. Since my tabernacle doesn't allow any attached of the base of the gin pole, I opted to place the board and gin pole close to the mast base and then secure the upright gin pole with port, starboard, and bow straps. I checked the deck and the load is spread out evenly over the 2 x 12 as to not even deflect the deck. A quick note: I uninstalled the tabernacle and rebidded it with sealant and new screws. Over the years things become a little loose.
2) I thought about an electric winch, but opted for a hand crank winch which allows me to control the raising and lowering in a more fluid manner. I didn't know how much the electric winch would cause the mast to deflect when the electric which is stopped and started. You could give it a try and see. I am going to post some close up pics. Let me know your thoughts. Al

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

22 Macgregor Gin Pole Pics (close up) Mast roller too.

22 Macgregor Gin Pole pic close up. Also a pic of the roller that is is attached to rod holders attached to the stern rail. Easy set up.

 

[rgranger]

I've owned a Mac 22 in the past.... the Balboa 26's mast is considerably heavier... I could dead-lift the 22 by facing aft on the cabin top and reaching down between my legs and coming straight up... but it was right at the max of my comfort leve.... I can barely lift the Balboa off of the mast crutch, even when standing in the cockpit....but I think your design could be modified to work on the Balboa. I'm going to think on it some and give it a try. Thanks for posting the close-ups....

 

[topcat0399]

22 Macgregor Gin Pole pic close up. Also a pic of the roller that is is attached to rod holders attached to the stern rail. Easy set up.

I think you are on the right track.

We are a constant gin pole user and you could make that sweet gin pole so much easier to set up and use.

Make sure mast step tightly bolted.

Put a longer mast step bolt in.

On the bottom of your gin pole put a big U (yolk) with notches on the ends that fit the longer mast bolt.

Instead of using that ratchet strap from the pole to the anchor cleat - use a fixed length strong line with a loop at the end that you can wrap twice around the cleat.

Mount a bail on the front of the mast about 6 feet up or so.

Put gin pole yolk on mast step bolt and lay gin pole down

Reel out your gin pole winch cable to the mast hook to mast bail

Get rid of all those ratchet straps (we used to use them too) you have on the sides of mast. Just use one set and connect them to the bail on the mast and then to your cleats on each side (baby stays). We now use a quick cleat cargo line.

Reel in your winch until gin pole lifts and you get mast tension. Haul her up.

Thats all you need.

Without having your attachment points for your baby stays at the same height as the mast step - they will go slack while raising and lowering.
We fixed that with a simple harness made of line and quick connects.

My admiral can handle this setup alone even in high wind.

 

[FloridaSailor1949]

I think you are on the right track.

We are a constant gin pole user and you could make that sweet gin pole so much easier to set up and use.

Make sure mast step tightly bolted.

Put a longer mast step bolt in.

On the bottom of your gin pole put a big U (yolk) with notches on the ends that fit the longer mast bolt.

Instead of using that ratchet strap from the pole to the anchor cleat - use a fixed length strong line with a loop at the end that you can wrap twice around the cleat.

Mount a bail on the front of the mast about 6 feet up or so.

Put gin pole yolk on mast step bolt and lay gin pole down

Reel out your gin pole winch cable to the mast hook to mast bail

Get rid of all those ratchet straps (we used to use them too) you have on the sides of mast. Just use one set and connect them to the bail on the mast and then to your cleats on each side (baby stays). We now use a quick cleat cargo line.

Reel in your winch until gin pole lifts and you get mast tension. Haul her up.

Thats all you need.

Without having your attachment points for your baby stays at the same height as the mast step - they will go slack while raising and lowering.
We fixed that with a simple harness made of line and quick connects.

My admiral can handle this setup alone even in high wind.

Hi TC,
Thanks for the suggestions. Awesome. One question about the baby stays connected to the harness. Could you elaborate on that set up a bit. I have a bit of a concept of the setup, but a pic or a bit more detail on that would be appreciated.

I really liked the idea about the long mast bolt and the yoke. I will put that to use my next trip out.

Again, thanks. Al