1979 C-22 mast stepping question

[radioguy]

Sailors,

We were trying to step the mast this morning on our new C-22. We did the following:

Picked up mast, walked it aft until the base was over the mast step plate. We lifted the mast just enough to get the pin in at the bottom. Once it was pinned, we tried lifting the mast.

The problem was that we were only able to lift the mast about two feet before something started binding and prevented the mast from going up any further. It was not the stays/shrouds, so this lead me to believe that the mast was binding in the base.

Should we raise the mast to a certain degree before pinning it? Or is it ok to pin the mast straight away? Upon reflection, I wished we had jiggled the base of the mast and tried to pull it up a bit to maybe get past the binding. (But since this is out first time, I didn't want to risk breaking anything due to my huge amount of ignorance.)

Thank you kindly,
RG

 

[Mike1956]

Your base should have slots for the bolt. Do not tighten the bolt, just enough to keep the not from falling off. Also, make sure that the sliding hatch is closed. Connect the back stay, the rear lower shrouds, and the upper shrouds. Leave the forestay and the forward lower shrouds disconnected until the mast is raised. Use at least one helper and preferably two.

I use a block and tackle attached to the jib halyard and the front of the trailer, as well as a gin pole to keep the mast from swaying. The mast can be raised by sheer manpower, but the mechanical advantage makes it soooooo much easier and safer too.