Mast Step?

[Cpt. Jon]

Hi all,

Stu Jackson mentioned a mast step for taking his sail cover off in another thread. My wife and I are about 5'6" and on our H30 the mainsail cover can be tough to reach the top of. It sounded like Stu has some sort of step to help with this. I may have been mistaken in my interpretation though. So if any of you vertically challenged (read - better center of gravity) people such a myself have some sort of step mounted and you have a picture or product that you firmly believe in that is more or less out of the way when not in use, I'd love to see or hear about it. It's not critical, but it might make things easier if done right.

thanks!

Jon

 

[Tim R.]

There are some folding steps you can buy that attach to your mast.

http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?group=914

I am less vertically challenged but I also have a SS guard just in front of my mast that is easy to step up on.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

Tim,

The stainless steel guard is interesting in your photos, was that something you added?

Jon

 

[Ross]

On my Islander I can sit straddle of the boom and have both feet flat on the deck.

 

[Tim R.]

Ross, on my Ericson, I can gibe the boom while standing

 

[Tim R.]

Tim,

The stainless steel guard is interesting in your photos, was that something you added?

Jon

Nope. That is factory. There are 2 dorade vents there that the guard protects. I do not need them in our cool temps most of the time. I add them when needed.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

Ross, on my Ericson, I can gibe the boom while standing

Yup, me too... wasn't the case in our 25.5 and boom height wasn't an issue with the mainsail cover. I like the higher boom, just makes me feel a little short, I can get the cover on and off, but it's a stretch... who knows maybe it will make me taller

Nope. That is factory. There are 2 dorade vents there that the guard protects. I do not need them in our cool temps most of the time. I add them when needed.

That makes sense, I was wondering what it was there to protect, thought maybe to keep the head sail or headsail sheets from catching on something... I guess like the dorade vents.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Tim's photo is what we have

Our PO was 4'-6" and sold us the boat with a step ladder because he'd had Harken bat Cars installed and the headboard was way up high! I got tired of yanking the ladder out of the lazarette, so put one mast step on, and it's great. Before i broke my leg, I could wrap my right leg around the mast with my left leg on the step and have two hands free. The step's on the starboard side of the mast. Instead of putting another step on the port side, I'll exercise my left leg more and get back to using two hands, but it can be done with one hand, just harder.

 

[Dragon]

My Hunter 37 has the same set up with the mast step as Stu's. I find the wrapping of the right leg around the mast a bit awkward (plus bad knees) and am thinking of installing another step on the port side maybe slightly higher.