Ok I drove my Sprindrift Rascal to a nearby lake to practice aligning trailer with ramp. After a few tries I got it . What suggestions do you have to raise mast single handed without hurting my back. smiles
Raise the mast single handed How?
- Thread starter PConti2025
- Start date
From what I can see in some photos, the mast is stepped on deck, which makes it easy. Being a fractional rig, the shroud chain plates are aft of the mast. Pin the mast base in place at the step and attach the shrouds. Walk the mast up, starting from the stern, using the mast step as a pivot. Have a friend attach the forestay, or at least hold the forestay until you can attach. Tune the rigging, and you are good. DON'T try this without somebody you trust to hold the forestay and mast up until you can get to the bow. Ask me how I know this.
If you must raise the mast single handed, you are going to need a system that a) raises the mast into position without you walking it up, and/or b) holds the mast up while you connect the forestay. I use a gin pole and trailer winch on my 19ft Mariner, which has a heavier and longer mast. I also learned the hard way to use baby stays to steady the mast horizontally while winching it upright - the shrouds are loose until the mast is upright. You might or might not need baby stays.
The higher the top of the mast is when you start the lift, the easier it is to raise. I add a small vertical extension and trailer roller to my rear trailering support when I raise the mast. This helps me position the mast from trailering position to ready to lift.
Fred W
Stuart (ODay) Mariner 19 Sweet P
If you must raise the mast single handed, you are going to need a system that a) raises the mast into position without you walking it up, and/or b) holds the mast up while you connect the forestay. I use a gin pole and trailer winch on my 19ft Mariner, which has a heavier and longer mast. I also learned the hard way to use baby stays to steady the mast horizontally while winching it upright - the shrouds are loose until the mast is upright. You might or might not need baby stays.
The higher the top of the mast is when you start the lift, the easier it is to raise. I add a small vertical extension and trailer roller to my rear trailering support when I raise the mast. This helps me position the mast from trailering position to ready to lift.
Fred W
Stuart (ODay) Mariner 19 Sweet P
Go to the place were you planning to sail that other sailors are in the area and ask another sailor to give you a hand. Even though you can probably handle a lighter mast such that would be on your boat it could get away from you and cause a nasty rope burn or pinch when r a tangle on the other end of the mast suddenly appears with leverage.
Thank you. For the suggestion that are very helpful. As I master the positioning the trailer at boat ramp to launch and retrieve oat I see the stepping mast to vertical as the next crucial skill to learn. On a separate note how much tensioning is required on the Starboard and port shrouds and how much tensioning on the forstay?
I built an electric mast raising system by mounting a wireless ATV winch to the bow support on the trailer. I would guide it up by hand but let the winch do the heavy lifting after the first few feet. Let me know if you want some more info on it
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The tightest they should be is 20% of breaking strength, which depends on wire size. I use a Loos Gauge and the rigging suggestions from the Mariner racers - minus about 20lbs tension. I also use a tape measure hoisted to the masthead on the main halyard to measure mast rake, and make sure the shrouds are set to the same length. On a Mariner, the forestay is about 25% more tension than the shrouds. If I don't have enough tension, the forestay will sag in heavier winds going to windward (can see it in the jib luff).
Fred W
Stuart (ODay) Mariner 19
So I used a Harbor Freight ATV winch that came with a wireless remote. The main mounting "frame" for everything was a piece of strut channel. I used a right angle bracket at the bottom to secure it to the trailer. It was sandwiched between the base of the bow support and the trailer frame. A few feet above, I used a bracket to mount a small piece of plywood for a battery box (a 7 amp gel cell would be enough for this application). I used another unistrut right angle bracket halfway up to attach it to the trailer winch support. My trailer just happened to have a spare hole that I took advantage of. A few feet up, I mounted the ATV winch with two grade 8 bolts going all the way through the strut channel. Finally, at the very top, I made a place to rest the mast when not in use.
I'm guessing this would cost $200-300 to build. I used this method on a 19' Starwind and an O'Day 25. I used 10A gel cell batteries at the beginning and end of each season for the O'Day. It's a very light load on the winch. The wireless remote was a HUGE help. The winch was left outside during the summer and inside during the winter.
I saw the unistrut with the mast support in storage the other day. If you want, I can try to get a pic of it. I'm not sure if all the hardware is still installed on it
If not too much trouble. Pictures would be helpful. Also how was the line attached to mast and how did you retrieve the line off the mast when it was raised?
I attached the winch line to a halyard. The cleat is only a couple of feet above the cabin top so there's enough length so it's reachable. If not, You can always release a bit more line once you've secured the rigging
@PConti2025
Is your boat a daysailor or better yet what is the length of your boat? I am a former sailboat dealer
Crazy Dave
Is your boat a daysailor or better yet what is the length of your boat? I am a former sailboat dealer
Crazy Dave
You would want your boat secured to the trailer so it would not tip over with the trailer is still attached to the tow vehicle. Purchase a new jib halyard that is longer or long enough with mast down from forestay chain plate to cleat on the mast. Start raising the mast by walking up the middle of the cockpit. When the mast is all the way up, secure the mast by pulling the jib halyard taunt. The chain plate should have two holes. Use the hole closest to the mast which to initially tie the jib halyard to