Is it really possible to step the H23 mast, rig the boat, tune the rig and sail away in less than an hour? I think the photos in the owners manual have been doctored. Peter S/V Raven
Another question for the mast-steppers
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MIke B
23 tuning
yes it is possible, it will not be really fine tuned, but tuned to the point of being able to sail, you really must sail it in order to tune it, good luck there are lots of posts about this, Mike B
yes it is possible, it will not be really fine tuned, but tuned to the point of being able to sail, you really must sail it in order to tune it, good luck there are lots of posts about this, Mike B
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Jon Bastien
It's possible...
...But don't expect the tuning to be perfect the first day. What many folks do is apply some sail tape to the threads on the turnbuckles to mark the proper position- Theoretically, the tension and tuning will be correct if you always tighten your shrouds/stays to the same points. This doesn't leave any room for 'stretch', though... I have had good success with locknuts on the turnbuckles for the shrouds and backstay, and marking my forestay with tape. (Remember, the only turnbuckle I loosen when de-rigging is the forestay.) Are you planning on trailering your boat soon, Peter? Or just curious how we do it? ;o) --Jon Bastien H23 '2 Sheets to the Wind' (for sale!) H25 'Adagio'
...But don't expect the tuning to be perfect the first day. What many folks do is apply some sail tape to the threads on the turnbuckles to mark the proper position- Theoretically, the tension and tuning will be correct if you always tighten your shrouds/stays to the same points. This doesn't leave any room for 'stretch', though... I have had good success with locknuts on the turnbuckles for the shrouds and backstay, and marking my forestay with tape. (Remember, the only turnbuckle I loosen when de-rigging is the forestay.) Are you planning on trailering your boat soon, Peter? Or just curious how we do it? ;o) --Jon Bastien H23 '2 Sheets to the Wind' (for sale!) H25 'Adagio'
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Ward
Less than 30 minutes with two people
I trailer each use. From the time my wife and I pull up to the ramp area to the time we are ready to pull away from the dock is about 30 minutes if everything is going good. I tuned the shrouds forestay and adjustable backstay once this season. It hasn't needed tuned since even though the mast is taken up and down each use. I don't turn any turnbuckles to step or unstep the mast. I fix a line to the jib haylard and then use a cockpit winch to gain enough slack in the wire to attach the forestay. I sometimes sail alone (wife won't go when its really hot). Stepping the mast by myself usually doubles the time. Its trickier and I take my time to make sure no wires will tangle during the hoisting process. Even with minor problems it has never taken me much over an hour by myself and never over 45 minutes with two people. Practice Makes Perfect...... Doing this once or twice a week has made doing it a lot easier. There are lots of methods for stepping the mast that have been discussed here in the past. If you check the archives for mast stepping I think you may find a method that would suit your needs. Ward
I trailer each use. From the time my wife and I pull up to the ramp area to the time we are ready to pull away from the dock is about 30 minutes if everything is going good. I tuned the shrouds forestay and adjustable backstay once this season. It hasn't needed tuned since even though the mast is taken up and down each use. I don't turn any turnbuckles to step or unstep the mast. I fix a line to the jib haylard and then use a cockpit winch to gain enough slack in the wire to attach the forestay. I sometimes sail alone (wife won't go when its really hot). Stepping the mast by myself usually doubles the time. Its trickier and I take my time to make sure no wires will tangle during the hoisting process. Even with minor problems it has never taken me much over an hour by myself and never over 45 minutes with two people. Practice Makes Perfect...... Doing this once or twice a week has made doing it a lot easier. There are lots of methods for stepping the mast that have been discussed here in the past. If you check the archives for mast stepping I think you may find a method that would suit your needs. Ward
I guess it's just a question of practice
I have had this boat for more than a year and this was the first time I unstepped the mast. I used to unstep the mast on my dinghy all the time without any hassle and that was a pretty tall mast (24 ft, on a 16 ft boat). I guess I need to practice some more. I did get a couple of other surprises. I couldn't get enough tension in the jib halyard (via a turning block on the bow and a line back to the main winch) to loosen the forestay fitting. In the end, I slackened the uppers and the forestay by 12 turns each to get the fitting loose, with tension still on the line to the winch. Maybe it's because I have no forward pin on the mast base?? The fittings for the upper ends of the shrouds kept falling out of their slots while the mast was on its way up. I had to keep tension on these by hand until the mast was part way up and gravity took over. An 50 ft long electrician's fish is a great way to thread a halyard through the mast. Push the end through the sheave at the upper end and unwind until it reaches the exit from the mast. Fish it out, tie on a piece of light line and pull it back. When the light line gets to the top, disconnect from the fish and bring the line down to the mast base/deck. You can then use the light line to pull the halyard through. The best way to join these two lines is to sew them together end-to-end with dental floss. Cover the joint with one wrap of rigging tape just to keep everything from snagging. Yes, I am planning to hit the road later this year. There are quite a few regattas in central Florida this winter and several places on the Florida Gulf Coast that I want to cruise. The Keys, St. Augustine and the Indian River lagoon are also high on the hit list. The only way to get there is by road, so...I'm buying materials for a mast tripod this week. I have spent the last year on Lake Monroe learning how this boat handles in all kinds of weather, and it's time to go further afield. Coming soon to a boat ramp near you!! Peter S/V Raven
I have had this boat for more than a year and this was the first time I unstepped the mast. I used to unstep the mast on my dinghy all the time without any hassle and that was a pretty tall mast (24 ft, on a 16 ft boat). I guess I need to practice some more. I did get a couple of other surprises. I couldn't get enough tension in the jib halyard (via a turning block on the bow and a line back to the main winch) to loosen the forestay fitting. In the end, I slackened the uppers and the forestay by 12 turns each to get the fitting loose, with tension still on the line to the winch. Maybe it's because I have no forward pin on the mast base?? The fittings for the upper ends of the shrouds kept falling out of their slots while the mast was on its way up. I had to keep tension on these by hand until the mast was part way up and gravity took over. An 50 ft long electrician's fish is a great way to thread a halyard through the mast. Push the end through the sheave at the upper end and unwind until it reaches the exit from the mast. Fish it out, tie on a piece of light line and pull it back. When the light line gets to the top, disconnect from the fish and bring the line down to the mast base/deck. You can then use the light line to pull the halyard through. The best way to join these two lines is to sew them together end-to-end with dental floss. Cover the joint with one wrap of rigging tape just to keep everything from snagging. Yes, I am planning to hit the road later this year. There are quite a few regattas in central Florida this winter and several places on the Florida Gulf Coast that I want to cruise. The Keys, St. Augustine and the Indian River lagoon are also high on the hit list. The only way to get there is by road, so...I'm buying materials for a mast tripod this week. I have spent the last year on Lake Monroe learning how this boat handles in all kinds of weather, and it's time to go further afield. Coming soon to a boat ramp near you!! Peter S/V Raven
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Greg Stebbins
Don't laugh but...
Peter, To keep my shrouds in durring mast raising, I got some small corks from H/W store. did a little wittling to sharpen the ends and installed a line through each cork knotted at end. I jam the corks in above each fitting befor raising and they hold those fittings in place. When the mast is up and tight, I yank on the lines and the corks come down. It works, it just seems goofy. Greg H23 Faster-
Peter, To keep my shrouds in durring mast raising, I got some small corks from H/W store. did a little wittling to sharpen the ends and installed a line through each cork knotted at end. I jam the corks in above each fitting befor raising and they hold those fittings in place. When the mast is up and tight, I yank on the lines and the corks come down. It works, it just seems goofy. Greg H23 Faster-
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