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This gadget is clamped to my mast and it's main function is to keep the mast from going over the side as I raise/lower. I call it a mast yoke and there are temporary stays (baby stays) connected to it and pivot bridles on both sides of my boat located on the side decks near the chainplates. There are two simple rules to follow when raising/lowering the mast from the stern of the boat: 1. Always make sure that the boat is level from side to side. 2. The wind needs to be coming directly from aft. If the boat is leaning to one side, the temporary stays may not support the mast. The same holds true if a large gust of wind hits the mast from the beam of the boat while raising/lowering. In either case the mast can go over the side. If you don't have a furler, the mast yoke along with temporary stays and pivot bridles can be omitted as long as you follow those two simple rules. All that is needed is the Gin pole and the mast crutch in the stern.
This is that special hitch which I call the "Lineman's Rolling Hitch." It's very simple to tie and it absolutely won't slip on anything you tie it to. I sent it to "Grog" (Alan Grogono www.animatedknots.com) last month for his web site. Whether he'll add it to his collection of knots and hitches, I don't know.
This pic shows the vinyl furler luff loosely secured against the Gin Pole. I'm using a special hitch around the vinyl luff just above the Gin Pole which is securely tied off to the Gin Pole with this same 1/4" line.
The furler stays secured to the Gin Pole all the way down and doesn't flop around. I'm using my boom vang with an extra long braid line to let the mast down. Generally, I'm standing on the closed companionway hatch next to the mast with the boom vang line in my hands.
Taking the mast down with my new stainless steel Gin Pole. After releasing the furler I tie it off to the Gin Pole about 2/3s the way out with 1/4" braid line by taking a round turn around the pole and two half hitches after pulling the slack out of the line. The line is taken around the furler's vinyl luff and the pipe and held loosely in place with two half hitches around the pipe.
I found this to be the perfect spot for my Stern's Sunshower. I installed two fare-leads on my sliding hatch cover to tie the shower bag off. The bag is out of the way and easily accessible from the cockpit.
I'm planning on storing my Igloo 28 quart cooler in this Port side cubby hole along with other gear that I carry. My main cooler is a 50 qt. Igloo which fits nicely behind the companionway step in the cabin. I still have plenty of space for seating and sleeping on these quarter births.
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