Best way to step mast

[bwingler]

Hi All,
Everyone has been great help on my previous post on lifting my boat. My next issue on my Watkins 23 is stepping the mast. What is the best way to do this? What do you guys use? My Watkins has a single bolt at the mast plate. Sorry for the questions but i am new to this. The marinas around me want way to much money for a slip.

Thanks All,
Barry

 

[Roger (Ninette Manitoba)]

A long line and a couple of friends

Attach a long line to the forward end of the jib halyard, and secure the inboard end to a cleat on the mast. Have a friend walk forward pulling up on the mast with the line, while you in the cockpit and later on the cabin top both lift and steady the mast. Once erect, the line person holds it in place with the line while you secure the forestay. All other shrouds/backstay are attached prior to lifting.

On a boat this size the forces are not that great and easily manageable.

 

[Joe11688]

Barry,
I use a Gin Pole that my son welded up for me out of stainless steel pipe and other hardware. It can also be built of wood. A set of block and tackle can be used to raised the mast, or a small boat winch. The only other thing that is needed is a mast crotch which can be temporarily mounted on your stern rail to hold your mast from hitting the companionway slider.
Joe

 

[Joe]

I believe you mean "crutch". By the way, a "crotch" is an upside down crutch...heh, heh.

 

[porsche]

you tube

If you go onto youtube and look under catalina22 do a search you will see a man step his cat22 mast. I use this method and is easy as eating pie, I think your boat will be the same. Alan

 

[JBerger]

The method described by Joe works very well. But you have to be careful that the mast doesn't shift side to side in the first part of the elevation, since the shrouds do not help to stabilize it, until the mast is nearly vertical. On my previous boat, a Bayliner Buccaneer 270, with a 30' mast someone suggested rigging a triangular shaped fulcrum. With a 2x4 base tied to the grab rails on the cabin deck, two hinges for the rig, and a U-bolt at the point. I secured the main haylard to a mast cleat, and the other end to the top of the rig. From the same rig, I had a 4:1 block and tackle attached to the bow, with the line led back to a winch and cleat.

Just one person standing in the cockpit, can raise the mast, without worrying that the mast will twist, or lean to the side. Make sure the mast base is pinned in the aft pin position, and that the shrouds are attached. This works well for lowering the mast again in the fall.

Jack

 

[Joe11688]

Joe,
I stand corrected. Crotch, crutch, tomatoes, toomatoes,---That sounds like a familiar song I used to know. :dance:

Jack,
You're absolutely right. You need something to keep the mast from going over sideways, but if you don't have a roller furler to throw everything off balance, and if you keep the wind coming from directly behind the stern, I know that he could get by without pivot bridles if he can stand next to the mast to guide it as he raises or lowers it. I use pivot bridles now because I have a CDI Roller Furler, and I'm able to raise/lower my mast by myself with the wind aft. It takes a little more time to set up, but it would be impossible for me to do with my furler. For years, I did it the way Roger described, and I did it by myself. It's the fastest and best way if you're careful and young enough to do it. It's only when you start adding things like a furler, that mast handling becomes hard to do. As I approach "Geezerdom", it becomes an even bigger task. In the pics, I show one of my pivot bridles which connects to my lower stays. My friend Wayne uses a special mast crotch which he attaches for his pivot bridles. He uses a small boat winch and I use my boom vang with an extra long line. The other two things that I didn't mention that really makes the job go mast is; A Johnson Handy-Lock on my back stay, and a quick release button type fast pin on my furler. I never have to mess with any of my turnbuckles. All the stay tensioning is done with that Handy-Lock on the back stay.
Joe