gin pole mast stepping

[ron1881]

I want to make a gin pole mast stepping system for my standard rig 25. I have viewed a few tube videos.
How long should the pole be? how and where to attach to the mast?

 

[mmsailor]

gin pole

I want to make a gin pole mast stepping system for my standard rig 25. I have viewed a few tube videos.
How long should the pole be? how and where to attach to the mast?

In the past there were a number of people who posted their home made gin pole mast raising systems . You might try doing a search . I know a long time ago Ward from Iowa had a pretty good explanation with pictures for his h23 .

 

[Chief RA]

I used a simple 2x4. Mine fits and ties to the ginpole mast eye(under it) and front end ties around top of furler base unit. Eash end is cut to shape of mast and other end cut to contour of furler flex vertical unit. 2x4 is 2 holes drilled through for tie lines on each end with another stabilizer line through 2 parallel holes at the furler end and line ends tie on each side to stanchion eyes. Ran 2 1/2" galvanized screws through from the sides of the 2x4 on both sides and each end to prevent it from splitting apart. Oiled it. Chief

 

[caguy]

The pole should be long enough to reach the point where you will attach the end of your block and tackle. Either the anchor cleat or the bow chain plate.
The mast end can be attached anywhere near the bottom such that the pole is at right angle to the mast when the fore stay is attached to the other end.

 

[Chief RA]

Good morning Frank! Looks like we were both typing our msg at same time. I think we did cover it well but will see with his response. Chief

 

[SeaTR]

Chief,
Do you have any pictures ?

 

[Chief RA]

SeaTR: Nice to hear from you. No pictures but read it carefully and its pretty simple. Just ask if you need clarification on anything as it works great! With a mast as big as mine it has to be right. On the trailer the mast is 42 feet off the ground. Should have her outfitted and in Bodega Bay CA marina by end of month. Later, Chief

 

[SeaTR]

Ditto Chief,
Ya, I just fabbed up an aluminum gin pole for this year. Previously used an 8' 2x4 with braced footing installed perpendicular at the base of the mast, eye bolts at top with forstay on one side, 4-to-1 pulley system on the other attached to the forstay's mounting plate. (typical, I believe)

I had difficulty the past 6 yrs using this arrangement with side-to-side stability until the mast was almost vertical...even with port and stbd "stays" for the gin pole attached at the toe rail near the tabernacle pivot point.

See pix attached. I'm going to ACTUALLY test the new rig out this weekend during the 'dry rig' in my driveway.

Any ideas for improvement??

 

[Chief RA]

Looks pretty fancy and sophisticated to me. Should work fine I would think. I am quite pleased with mine as it is stable laterally as well as the pole securing well at both ends.
Chief

 

[ron1881]

Thanks for all the info , I'm going to try the 2x4 first.

 

[topcat0399]

If you use a 2x6 instead of a 2x4 all you need do is cut a notch in one end that fits the mast in lieu of attaching pieces to form the U. We used that for several years.

I built one out of a steel pole now (much lighter and more water proof).

--------------EDIT--------------------

I added diagrams to illustrate different methods. There are lots and lots of ways to rig a gin pole. I left out the majority of the construction details (each to his own) and just present the principles involved. Our mast is 30 feet long.

Our first few years we used the "Moving pole" (6 ft 2x6 board).

Now we use the "Fixed" method (6 ft metal pole)
This way the Gin Pole is self contained, uses no halyards,
can be used on while on the water.

None of these diagrams include any Baby Stay systems (another each to his own).

Some folks use block and tackle or halyard winches in place of a pole mounted winch.

YMMV and good luck.

 

[Chief RA]

Topcat: Using a heavier 2x6 is not needed. I form cut each end of my 9',2x4 to the furler and mast shapes on each end and it has no attachments other than ties on each end and baby stay lines. All lines are secured by drilling holes through the pole and has no metal pieces other than the galvanized screws used to prevent splitting on each end. Read my prior posts. Chief

 

[nodachi]

If you use a 2x6 instead of a 2x4 all you need do is cut a notch in one end that fits the mast in lieu of attaching pieces to form the U. We used that for several years.

I built one out of a steel pole now (much lighter and more water proof).

--------------EDIT--------------------

I added diagrams to illustrate different methods. There are lots and lots of ways to rig a gin pole. I left out the majority of the construction details (each to his own) and just present the principles involved. Our mast is 30 feet long.

Our first few years we used the "Moving pole" (6 ft 2x6 board).

Now we use the "Fixed" method (6 ft metal pole)
This way the Gin Pole is self contained, uses no halyards,
can be used on while on the water.

None of these diagrams include any Baby Stay systems (another each to his own).

Some folks use block and tackle or halyard winches in place of a pole mounted winch.

YMMV and good luck.

This is my first boat and I've no experience with gin poles but have been trying to figure out how to build a mast raising system.

When you wrote, "There are lots and lots of ways to rig a gin pole. I left out the majority of the construction details (each to his own) and just present the principles involved." I thought, "Okay, here we go again where it's plain as day to the author but not the reader."

But it turns out that's not the case with you because you presented "the principles involved"!!! :dance:

If a picture is worth a thousand words, your email is worth at least 3 thousand.

Thank you for your help.

 

[topcat0399]

As you might note from the Chiefs response (bless his salty heart) - that's why I did not include any construction details. There are so many ways to fillet a fish.

Good luck gettin' your pole up!

 

[Chief RA]

topcat: thanks for the compliment, I think? ha Went to sea on a destroyer (USS Kidd) and did a Far East cruise at 19 yrs old. Rode out 4 typhoons and rode 50' swells! I am indeed one Salty Sea Dog!
I know. I am off subject!
My best,Chief

 

[Zzzzzz]

Gin pole Alternative

I have a factory gin pole for my wwp19 but have found that a home made device on the trailer actually works better.

Its simple an 2 x 4 x 8 piece of wood attached to the forward upright steel post on the trailer that has a simple hardware store block on the top. If I thread the jib halyard(which I don't actually use) since the boat has roller furling, through the pulley wheel on the block, my wife,or any bystander can just lean back on the rope, and the mast comes right up. I do have baby stays to keep the mast from moving sideways. And the pulling up lineis high enough above the bow pulpit and everything else that it doesn't get tangled with anything.

No need to be attaching gin poles or other stuff. If I needed it to be higher I could simply use a couple of plates or buy a longer 2 x 4, or even put a hinge on it. It hangs on the side of the trailer when I'm not using it.

If you are interested I'll post a photo.

Z

 

[Chief RA]

Masts that size do not need anything to raise them except a sailor to just walk it up! I walked my mast up on my Clipper Marine 26 regularly and over 14 yrs use had no gin pole, ever. Chief

 

[Zzzzzz]

Masts that size do not need anything to raise them except a sailor to just walk it up! I walked my mast up on my Clipper Marine 26 regularly and over 14 yrs use had no gin pole, ever. Chief

You know, I've had a lot of people tell me that they could do it easily with my only 22 foot mast on my wwp19. But they all must be a lot stronger than me, and almost all of them are younger than my 65 years. I found that the dam thing is just plain too heavy for me to push up by myself.

I really respect those people who tell me how they just walk it up. I don't have enough balance to do that and would probably fall off the boat and break the same ribs a fourth time that I broke two weeks ago falling off the side of the boat when I thought my feet were solid.

 

[Chief RA]

You can bet I could and I am much older than you. In shape and 200 lbs. Chief

 

[Zzzzzz]

You can bet I could and I am much older than you. In shape and 200 lbs. Chief

Good for you.

I walk and run everyday and am in great shape. But at 6 feet four with rather thin arms, I cannot, and never could. Thank goodness people who also could not were not denied the ability to sail by those who could. Equipment has been developed so that the physically not strong can do these tasks and also have fun.....too.