Gin Pole QUestion

[Curt]

I searched the site first but did not come up with a good answer.

I have a full understandig as to how a gin pole works and it's function. I have seen general photos of the set up but never any detail. My only real question sis how is the gin pole attached to the bae of the mast? I am sure I can frigrig something but what is the tried and true method? Thanks in advance for the help.

Cheers,
Curt

 

[Jeff]

When we raise or lower the mast we use an old dock line that's loosely wrapped around the mast and attached to the cable on the gin pole winch. When we prepare to lower the mast I crank in the gin pole winch till the dock line raises to the first set of spreaders. Now we loosen the standing rigging a bit and then crank the gin pole winch a bit to transfer the weight of the mast to the gin pole. Someone needs to be ready at the foot of the mast to guide it while the standing rigging is detached and the mast is raised above the deck a few inches. At this point interior wires need to be disconnected at the base of the mast. Guide the foot of the mast to the forward rail and then ease out the gin pole winch till the mast is down. When raising the mast everything is reversed but the addition of a messenger line attached to this loosely wrapped dock line aids in getting it back down the deck after the mast is set.

 

[shemandr]

In the version that I helped someone use, the gin pole was not attached to the base of the mast. It stood on an about 1'X1' base of plywood in proximity to the mast step. I think it was supported by cables running from near the top of the gin pole to the toe rails of the boat and, if I remember correctly, fore and aft. They were tight enough so that the pole could not tip off its base.
It worked beautifully and I think we did 3 masts in an hour or so. The largest boat was 26'. I think they were all deck stepped masts.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Mast raising

The bracket my mast steps in has 2 sets of holes: the aft set is where the mast base bolts; the forward set is where my gin pole bolts. I'm attaching a diagram of my setup. -Paul

 

[dscribner]

Curt,

My gin pole straps to the base of my mast. I have a dedicated stepping line (could be a stay if I didn't have a roller furler) and a block and tackle to attach to my anchor cleat. Then I have two guys the keep the pole from going over. Everything I need is in one assembly. From the time I stop the truck, to the time I restart it to bring the assembled boat to the water is about 20 minutes.

 

[sinnettc]

I use one of those heavy truck type rubber bungies with the big s-hooks - it connects to a couple of screws in the side of my 2x4 gin pole:

This was taken early in the design testing stages - the V in the 2x4 is now a U and there's a bolt through just above the U to make sure it doesn't split. I use 4 rachet straps as baby stays; 2 on the pole and 2 on the mast. Works like a charm unless you have a twist right where the strap goes into the ratchet - don't ask how I know.

Additional/larger images at http://www.pbase.com/sinnettc/april_2010

 

[SchwarckT]

I also use a 2x4 with a U-shaped notch to fit directly on to the mast.

 

[LordNelson]

i too use a 2 by 4 with a horse shoe shaped piece of 2 by 6 to fit the mast. i have a couple eye bolts and run a line from the eyebolts around the mast several times. i also have a small track cleat for the down haul line that i tie off too to keep it from moving. pretty much red necked engineered with boy scout lashings. i should do something more professional, but it works in that i haven't dropped the mast on my wifes head : )

 

[Curt]

Thanks

Thanks all, I am sure I can rig something that willl meet the needs. I appreciate all the input.

Cheers,
Curt

 

[timebandit]

Go here and then all the way to the bottom

http://sites.google.com/site/mac22valentina/mods

 

[Joe11688]

I searched the site first but did not come up with a good answer.

I have a full understandig as to how a gin pole works and it's function. I have seen general photos of the set up but never any detail. My only real question sis how is the gin pole attached to the bae of the mast? I am sure I can frigrig something but what is the tried and true method? Thanks in advance for the help.

Cheers,
Curt

Curt,
When you build your Gin Pole you could make the yoke fit the mast snug, and either tie it to the mast as I have been doing, or use a simple belt with a buckle on one side. The only time that the yoke will want to pull off the mast is when the mast is completely up. The yoke would have a tendency to pull out only if the Gin Pole was made a little bit short. The force of the block and tackle would be pulling it forward after the mast was up. A rope or a strap would do it. If you use a set of blocks to pull your mast up or even a small boat winch mounted on your Gin Pole, you could get away without any kind of pivot bridles and baby stays provided that the boat is level and the wind is coming directly aft of the stern. On the other hand if you have a roller furler, I would strongly recommend the pivot bridles and baby stays depending on how your boat is designed. The Macs don't need pivot bridles, just the baby stays. I made my first Gin Pole out of oak and I made it to come apart. My new Gin Pole is made of 1" stainless steel and the welded 6" collar is 1-1/8" stainless where it comes apart. My son welded a triangular plate to the end of the pole for the block and tackle and bridle attachments. I use a regular fast pin on the collar to connect it. I also used the same wooden yoke that came off my oak Gin Pole. The pipe flange at the beginning of the pole is screwed into the bottom of the wood yoke but I have it so that the pipe protrudes past the flange and into a 1" hole into the yoke which makes it very solid. I'm still using a rope to hold it to the mast but I really plan on using a simple belt of some kind which would be faster, easier, and adequate.
Joe

 

[Tom Hoffman]

I patterened mine after Sumner's gin pole that he uses on his McGregor.
I had two SS ears welded to the sides of my mast step plate and this yoke fits neatly between and a pin goes throug with a hair pin cotter to hold it temporarily while the mast is being raised.

These next pictures show the whole gin pole in pieces, The cable runs up through the sheave and down to the fore stay anchor plate. There are 4 holes so it will go in the one closest to the mast. Fore stay into the front hole. The ring at the top is pointing toward the mast and it a rope goes to a mast saddle with a ring attached about 8' above the deck and back to the ring and tied with a bowline and once the mast is up and the gin pole is unfastened, the rope can be pulled through the mast ring.

This is a small brake winch, you have to wind it up or down. It will not freewheel.

The sheave hole, it was fun cutting a square hole through the square tube, when all I had was a jig saw and a metal cutting blade.

I made my gin pole 8' tall. The winch is just about 4' off the deck for comfort. You can stop the raising mast at any spot and adjust lines etc. Or lower back easily.

Tom...

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

I like Tom's the best, but here's my version with a few pics of low budget low tech..
I used Galvanized tubing 2" wide, the attachment to the mast are via inside corner wood braces from any hardware store modified so the screws/pole lines up straight and cut down for the bottom angle to attach closer to the base of the mast, which are done with long bolts thru the mast. I use the not needed jib halyard(roller furling now) for the up end of the pole and the rope vang 4:1 attaching the up end also to the bow cleat.
It is a bit labor intensive but I just found out yesterday that bending/unbending the sails take just as long as setting up to step or unstep the mast - ok it was nearly 100 and the admiral was whining more than helping so I was working alone.....