I just bought a 87 272Le and it is on the hard for the winter. In the spring I'll be putting it back in the water . Is there a easy way for one person to raise the mast?
Here are a couple pictures of the gin pole attached to a C22. As long as the forestay is centered on the mast, lowering the mast won't pull the mast to one side or the other. I made the mistake of using a halyard that was not centered on the masthead. It pulled the mast to one side and broke an A-frame leg! That was exciting!Andrew
Thanks for your help. Do you have any pictures so I can see how the gin pole works. How do you keep the mast from moving side to side while raising the mast? You mention alittle about this in your reply.
Thanks again
Chuck
Hi Andrew!Yes. Rig a metal tube gin pole that mounts to the base of the mast and runs forward to the bow chainplate. You will use an eye bolt on top of the gin pole to connect the forestay and an eyebolt on bottom to attach your boom vang or other 4:1 block setup with cam cleat setup. You will need about 60 ft of 3/8 or 1/2" line for the block setup. Use your mainsail halyard to support the mast while you disconnect the forestay to connect to the gin pole. Connect and cleat your gin pole control line. Loosen your shrouds, but leave them connected for lateral support. Alternatively, you could rig baby shrouds connected to Ubolts on the deck at or aft of the midpoint of the mast for lateral support.
Mount a telescoping mast crutch in the stern of the cockpit to catch the mast as you lower it. The higher, better, but 6-8 ft should do.
My friend and I have stepped and lowered his Oday 26 mast in this way the last two seasons. Works great!
I will be doing my 272 mast next season.
My only reservation is the pin in the mast step plate. It seems under built. I might mount a double pin step plate like the 26 has.
Check you pin! They often get torn off!
Thanks,
Andrew
"YES"Hi Andrew!
Was the aluminum tube that you used for your gin pole 1/8" or 0.125 thick?
Thanks,
Stan