My mast support pole is some sort of aluminum alloy
I would not weld an extension to the support pole to make it longer.
I have however been planning on adding a removeable extension to the current pole to make it taller and to make it possible to raise the starting position of the mast when raising it. Adding three or four feet to the pole would make raising the mast way easier for a single person to do.
I've not quite worked out the mechanics of a single person lifting the current pole and adding an extension to the bottom. With two people it would be simple but with two people you just have one push the mast up while the other pulls up the line on the "main sheet" to raise the mast. A more feasible plan seems to be adding an extension to the top that includes a yoke similar to what is presently there. To raise the starting point, you would attach the extension lift the mast out of the original yoke rest it in the new higher yoke and raise the mast.
Curious as to what your plan is.
Why not weld? Much stronger than mechanical….???
And. I am raising my support to clear a new structure. Has nothing to do with raising the mast.
I can (and do) raise the mast solo all the time. Seems easy to me. The gin pole does all the work…I dont think raising the mast support (unless you do like 5’ higher….which will cause other issues) will make much of a difference when raising it. It’s the angle of the line thru the gin pole that really dictates the pulling force needed, and that won’t change much if you raise the mast slightly. Maybe make a longer gin pole if you want easier pulling?
When I raise my mast, I have one hand on the end of the mainsheet line, and the other hand on the line halfway between the two blocks. So I am pulling UP on the very end of the line, and DOWN on the other hand. This opposite motion seems easier. And these is a bit less friction on the line in your second hand, as it has not gone thru the final sheave in the lower block.
