Another H26 Mast Raising Question

[BrianW]

Hi All: When raising the mast of my '94 H26, I ran out of main sheet tackle before the mast was fully raised enougn to connect the fore stay. I had to finish the job with a come-along. The tackle was fully let out from the beginning, but came up about 8 inches short. Did I overlook something? Any solutions? Thanks, BrianW

 

[Ken]

jib sheet and winches

On my 240 I use the sheet winches to do most of the work. Then the mainsheet for the last few inches.My set up is a little different than yours. I have a connection point for the lever on the mast step plate and not the socket in the mast.ken

 

[Russ]

"L"

I have run short before and realized I did not have the mast raising pole at a 90 degree angle to the mast. The mast and pole should form an "L".

 

[r]

Should Not be 90 Degrees to the Mast

Eighty to eighty five works best

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

h260 system

On our 2001 h260, we could also use the jib halyard to help raise the mast.Paul

 

[Russ]

r

r - Brilliant reply. Next time I set-up I'll have a protractor ready for the measurement. Could you clarify if it is 80 - 85 degrees to the bow or stern?Brian - If you don’t have a protractor handy, look for the 90 degree angle. It has worked well for me.

 

[BIGUMs]

atv winch

I back up my ATV into my pickup and use the winch that came with the 4wheeler. Actually I did that the first time this season and I think Im going to buy a winch to mount in the truck for this task. You have no idea how much easier and faster it was. normally raising the mast start to finnish takes me around 20-25 minutes using the ATV winch took less than 5 minutes, not counting putting the sail on. has anyone else thought of this?Brad

 

[Dave D 94 H26]

shortened.

Brian, I've also got a '94 H26 and when I attach the main sheet tackle with my set up, I have enough line left over to wrap it around a winch for the hard part. So I'm betting the PO said "duh, what's all this rope for" and cut it. I also recently saw a post that mentioned using the boom tackle to assist making the connection at the bow, but that was for a furler.

 

[Dick1505]

In a way, it makes sense.

I made a second, shorter main sheet for sailing. If you only put the mast up and down once a season, it doesn't take that long to switch to the longer sheet for the mast raising chore. The rest of the season you don't have to contend with all the surplus line in the cockpit.

 

[Reudi Ross]

I installed a sheave on the bow pulpit

and use my trailer winch to raise and lower the mast. Works great, you can do it with very little effort and standing on the trailer tongue you can see everything that is going on.

 

[George H260]

Shorter Maintheet

Now, why didn't I think of that....??? Dealing with all that line has always been a pain. Great tip.

 

[Dave D 94 H26]

hey reudi

got a picture of that? sounds like a great idea!

 

[BrianW]

Clarification on Original Post

Hi All: Great ideas! When I said I "ran out of mainsheet tackle" I wan't very specific. I didn't come up short on the bitter end of the sheet, I actually had plenty of line to stretch out the tackle from gin pole to anchor locker and to even reach the starboard winch with the bitter end of the sheet. I came up short at the end of my lift when my two sets of tackle completely came together and I "ran out of tackle". I love some of your other ideas! Thanks!

 

[Rick Webb]

I am Still Not Sure Where you are Short

Are you not able to pull the mast up taught enough to pin the forestay without loosening the turnbuckle? Is your ginpole on the blocks and there is no way to bring in more line? Is there somthing else I am not thinking of? As mentioned before the angle from the top of the mast to the gin pole should be at least 10 degrees less than 90 this gives you more room when your getting the must upright and creates a better advantage when the mast is initially on the way up. The first third is toughit gets easier as it goes up so if someone pushes the first few feet it helps. I have always done mine from the pulpit not used the winches I may try that.

 

[BrianW]

How I Came Up Short

I pulled on the mainsheet bitter end to raise the mast until the upper set of blocks of the mainsheet tackle touched the lower set of blocks and the mainsheet would pull no further. At this point, mast was not completely raised and my roller furler drum attachment point was about 6 inches shy of the point where it attaches to the bow headstay bracket on the bow. Thanks, BrianW

 

[George H260]

Another Mast Raising Question

What you describe is possible - when I get to the point where I'm ready to pin the furler the two mainsheet blocks are pretty close together (maybe less than a foot). As mentioned, if the pole is not started in the 80 degree position this might be the cause. Otherwise...beats me.

 

[alan]

If your didn't figure it out already...

...when the mast is down, the gin pole should form no more than an 90 degree angle with respect to facing the stern. As mentioned a bit less like eighty degrees may solve your problem. Make sure your turnbuckles are taped or otherwised strait up or they will bind and bend. It's possible if your rig is real tight that you will have to lengthen the forestay by opening the turnbuckles. Best to have help the first time. alan

 

[alan]

Edit of post below

Oops, didn't sign in so can't edit the other post. The side stay (shrouds) "T" fittings that are attached to the turnbuckles will bend if not strait up. The gin pole will tip to the stern a bit if the angle opening to it is less than 90 degrees (with respect to the mast). I have an h26 '94 with Isomast Spars. alan

 

[BrianW]

By Jove, I Think You've Got It Alan

I think your gin pole angle observation is the answer! Thanks, BrianW

 

[twalker H260]

Jib Halyard stretch

Brian - Another thing thing that I have found that the others haven't mentioned yet is occasionally I get a little more stretch in my halyard than I anticipated reducing the angle of the gin pole as I get near putting the pin in. Make sure that you get tension on both your halyard and your main sheet and the angle is still in the 10-15 degree range before you start raising your mast.