I've read thru the post and haven't found what I need. I have a '79 O'Day 23 that I bought a few months ago and have been going thru it. My last major task is to get the mast up so I can check out the rigging. I built a gin pole and mast support but it seems to be getting too complicate and dangerous with the roller furler attached. I'm looking for suggestions on how others raise their mast. I can't see towing this boat around if its going to take an army to get the mast up and down.
'79 O'Day 23 raising the mast
- Thread starter MDaniels
- Start date
The one time I saw someone raise the mast on an Oday 23, they raised it back to front, backstay attached to transom and top of mast, standing on the foredeck to pull the mast up. The headstay (with roller furler) was attached to the top of the mast, but secured to the mast itself during the raising. It was attached last. It was definitely a two-man job, and three would not have been unwelcome. I've heard of folks who rig and launch their Oday 23 (or similar sized boats) solo, but I think they are very experienced people who have developed their techniques and equipment over time. The whole experience is not for me; I got tired of rigging my Sunfish everytime I had to launch it.
I had a O'Day 21 so slightly smaller. I didn't have a mast support just the gin pole and I agree with Hukilau, two people are really what is needed. I attached my furling system to an eye hook at the end of the gin pole opposite of the eye hook I attach the line between the pole and the bow cleats.
Then after raised I could undo the shackle from the gin pole and just attach it to the boat. After a few practice runs it ran really smooth.
Then after raised I could undo the shackle from the gin pole and just attach it to the boat. After a few practice runs it ran really smooth.
Securing the furler to the mast can cause problems of course because it's longer than the mast. The one time I raised mine without a gin pole, it required four guys, two at the mast step, one guiding the mast from the cockpit (lifting the mast) and one guiding the furler.