DSC00435 Note where I am standing as I am letting the mast down. I want to be situated where I can grab hold of the mast if something goes haywire. The boom vang allows me to do just that. I'm not sure if the boat winch would allow this type of freedom.
DSC00781 This first Gin Pole that I built was made of Oak. I made so that it could be taken apart for easy stowage. If you decide to build one of these it would be wise to have your mast raised so that you can decide where you want to place it on the mast. I place the crutch of the Gin Pole on my mast and tie it off just about even with the Goose Neck. This height will allow me to take up on my block and tackle and I'm using my boom vang with about 55' of braid line attached to it. This gives me enough line to stretch the blocks out. Figure on making the Gin pole long enough to be within an inch or two from the forestay when it's in place on the mast. The Gin Pole just provides the angle needed to raise/lower the mast and that's all. Some guys mount a small boat winch on the Gin Pole and use it to raise/lower the mast. Myself, I prefer the block & tackle or my Boom Vang.
DSC00450 As I had mentioned previously, you need some sort of a mast crutch to hold the mast up off the cabin while you pin the tabernacle. A small roller in the mast crutch will allow you to roll the mast forward or aft. I was fortunate to get a full stern rail on my new O'Day 222 only because I requested it. They only install about 20 of these on these boats that year so I'm told. I had a welder make me up that mast crutch to my existing rail. He only charged me about $230 back then I think. I built that wooden crutch and later added the roller. My friend Wayne Barlow gave me the idea of having a roller in the crutch. I had been lifting my mast and walking it back to the crutch and putting it in place-- like a dumbbell. Heck it's easier to roll it back and forth.
DSC00442 I used to have to raise the crutch to a higher position before I started using the Gin Pole but having a Trex block under my mast tabernacle now allows the height needed over my closed companionway hatch to leave the crutch all the way down.
DSC00435 Note where I am standing as I am letting the mast down. I want to be situated where I can grab hold of the mast if something goes haywire. The boom vang allows me to do just that. I'm not sure if the boat winch would allow this type of freedom.
DSC08342 This mast only weighs about 65 lbs and it's easy to raise without the Gin Pole. I used to raise the mast by hand and use a 3/8"X 60' nylon line with a sheave connected to the bow stem chainplate to hold the mast up. I spliced an eye on one end of the line and connected it to my Jib shackle. The Jib halyard was raised and cleated to the mast with the line running through the sheave on the bow. Once the mast was up, I'd take the line around the mast above the goose neck fitting, and tie it off to my starboard bow cleat after pulling all the slack out of the line. Then the fore stay could be connected. If you have a quick release lever on your backstay or a Johnson Handy-Lock, you can throw enough slack into your forestay so that you can remove it. You never need to touch the other turnbuckles on the O'Day 222. A press button quick pin can be used on the fore stay. Do not use a fast pin!
Joe11688

DSC00435 Note where I am standing as I am letting the mast down. I want to be situated where I can grab hold of the mast if something goes haywire. The boom vang allows me to do just that. I'm not sure if the boat winch would allow this type of freedom.

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