Easy safe solo mast stepping

[Timm R Oday25]

Some one recently asked about solo mast stepping . I can easily , safely raise or lower the mast on our Oday 25 when the boat is on the trailer or in the water .
The materials totaled less than $50.00 and have been use use for almost 15 years .

The gin pole on the left has a band that wraps around the base of the mast and a clamp which has an adjustment for the amount of tension . The white ropes have positive latch that has proven to not accidentally unlock . I found them in the livestock aisle at the local farm and barn . One end attaches to the end of the gun pile and the other end attaches to a triangular plate that also secured the side stays . These are infinitely adjustable for the pivot angle and side loads such as high winds . These can be used on just about any boat . The ratcheting blocks provide very good holding power .
The blue line has a single block and a double block which attaches to the end of the gin pole .
The single block attaches to the bow stem fitting . The bitter end goes back to the halyard winch on the mast ..
strangely it takes longer to set it up than to actually use it .
Hopefully this helps someone . Any questions , just ask

 

[Richo265]

Thanks, great looking system and obviously proven through years of use. After all of my reading and studying the various systems, homemade and manufactured, I believe yours and systems like yours, distill all the unnecessary items out and leave just what is necessary to do the job safely and efficiently. I just ordered the aluminum necessary for me to make my gin pole. I still need to make an attachment point in line with the axis of my mast step bolt to anchor my lateral supports. When I am done my gear will look basically the same as what you have. Thanks for the post!

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Im very interested in seeing this setup. Do you have any more pics?

 

[baycloud]

Does the gin pole attach to the forstay and the side stays? My setup is that the mast hinges backwards, I have a gin Pole that attaches to the forestay, and then another line that attaches from the gin Pole to the bow, and then back to a winch in the cockpit. What I need is something to connect to the side stays in order to prevents the mast from swaying side to side