I bought a used H-260 and today was my first attempt at raising the mast. Things did not go well. I connected the jib halyard and the main sheet blocks to the gin pole IAW the instruction manual. I put as much pull on the main sheet as I could and the mast did not budge. I went to the crutch and lifted it a foot to see if was stuck to something and it came right up. I then went back to the main sheet and put as much pull on the line as I could. The gin pole bent but the mast would not move. What am I doing wrong? Can one man really routinely raise the mast on a H-260?
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Bill O'Donovan
Cheer up
You are not alone. Go into the Archives on this web site and type in the words "stepping the mast." Click on Message (instead of Title) and you will find 480 postings on this. Best advice is to get someone to help you. All it takes is 5 minutes for the helper, so just set yourself up and snare the first guy who comes along. You'll do much better. Remember, it took more than one Marine to raise the flag at Iwo Jima.
You are not alone. Go into the Archives on this web site and type in the words "stepping the mast." Click on Message (instead of Title) and you will find 480 postings on this. Best advice is to get someone to help you. All it takes is 5 minutes for the helper, so just set yourself up and snare the first guy who comes along. You'll do much better. Remember, it took more than one Marine to raise the flag at Iwo Jima.
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Carl
Mast raising
A couple of things you might check, the gin pole should be as long as the distance from mast step to eye bolt in anchor locker, mast could be binding in mast step if struts are not adjusted properly, bolts at base of struts could be too tight.My 240 mast can be pulled up with one hand, I can't imagine the 260 being that much more difficult.~Carl`
A couple of things you might check, the gin pole should be as long as the distance from mast step to eye bolt in anchor locker, mast could be binding in mast step if struts are not adjusted properly, bolts at base of struts could be too tight.My 240 mast can be pulled up with one hand, I can't imagine the 260 being that much more difficult.~Carl`
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Tom Wootton
I raise mine alone...
...but my first attempt was a disaster (see "inauspicious beginning" in the archive.) It gets easier as the mast gets closer to vertical. Make sure the shrouds, mainsheet and topping lift are not hung up on anything, including the spreaders. I've had shrouds catch on the jibsheet cleats, the winches, bimini hardware, etc. Go slow and keep checking. My gin pole bends some too. A little unnerving, but it's never buckled.
...but my first attempt was a disaster (see "inauspicious beginning" in the archive.) It gets easier as the mast gets closer to vertical. Make sure the shrouds, mainsheet and topping lift are not hung up on anything, including the spreaders. I've had shrouds catch on the jibsheet cleats, the winches, bimini hardware, etc. Go slow and keep checking. My gin pole bends some too. A little unnerving, but it's never buckled.
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Mark
steady steady
Our first attempt at raising the mast on our 260 also resulted in a few problems. We did it late at night in complete darkness (first mistake) on the eve of a boat show! Read the manual many times prior, its detail is excellent. The mistake we made was not checking that all halyards and shrouds are not snagged on anything. The starboard shround was caught on the trailer. And yes our gin pole bent slightly. Having sorted that out up she came up however we did not ensure that the shrouds were pointing staight up. Bent turnbuckles the result. Never never again. We check and double check every time now. As a matter of habit I also lift the mast up a few feet whilst pulling on the main sheet, just to take the strain off during this heavy load time. One annoying thing is the bolt tip on the cradle (that the mast sits on) always catches the topping lift. Just prior to getting the mast right up I re-check again those turnbuckles. There has to be something terribly wrong if after doing all this it still won't budge. Binding at the base might be possible but not likely for when you pull on the mainsheet there is an awfull lot of purchase. Try some CRC on the pin anyway. The side stays might be the problem but I doubt it. Once you have done it a few times you will find it just so easy. One person can do it and in fact I believe only one person should be on deck when raising the mast. Take your time, double check and know that you can stop at any time and re-check. I attach the spinaker halyard as well to the pole alongside the head sail shackle as a back up safety line just in case the headsail shackle or splice should fail. So I tension up both with slightly less on the spinaker halyard. As a matter of interest we have fitted a small roller to our mast cradle and it makes sliding the mast back easy. Get that mast up and start sailing, you will be very very happy with the 260.
Our first attempt at raising the mast on our 260 also resulted in a few problems. We did it late at night in complete darkness (first mistake) on the eve of a boat show! Read the manual many times prior, its detail is excellent. The mistake we made was not checking that all halyards and shrouds are not snagged on anything. The starboard shround was caught on the trailer. And yes our gin pole bent slightly. Having sorted that out up she came up however we did not ensure that the shrouds were pointing staight up. Bent turnbuckles the result. Never never again. We check and double check every time now. As a matter of habit I also lift the mast up a few feet whilst pulling on the main sheet, just to take the strain off during this heavy load time. One annoying thing is the bolt tip on the cradle (that the mast sits on) always catches the topping lift. Just prior to getting the mast right up I re-check again those turnbuckles. There has to be something terribly wrong if after doing all this it still won't budge. Binding at the base might be possible but not likely for when you pull on the mainsheet there is an awfull lot of purchase. Try some CRC on the pin anyway. The side stays might be the problem but I doubt it. Once you have done it a few times you will find it just so easy. One person can do it and in fact I believe only one person should be on deck when raising the mast. Take your time, double check and know that you can stop at any time and re-check. I attach the spinaker halyard as well to the pole alongside the head sail shackle as a back up safety line just in case the headsail shackle or splice should fail. So I tension up both with slightly less on the spinaker halyard. As a matter of interest we have fitted a small roller to our mast cradle and it makes sliding the mast back easy. Get that mast up and start sailing, you will be very very happy with the 260.
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Mark
Again
Just read your post again and noticed that you lifted the mast a few feet to see if it was free. I guess you then let the mast back to its rest position on the mast support and went back to the mainsheet and applied force? Try as I mentioned in my earlier reply to take the main sheet line back to above the rear of the cabin top. Stand there and lift the mast about a foot or two with one hand and pull on the mainsheet at the same time. Then move forward to the mast base and pull her up. It is this very first 1-3 feet that is the hardest and so puts the most stain on the system. Look forward to your reply when you next lift the mast.
Just read your post again and noticed that you lifted the mast a few feet to see if it was free. I guess you then let the mast back to its rest position on the mast support and went back to the mainsheet and applied force? Try as I mentioned in my earlier reply to take the main sheet line back to above the rear of the cabin top. Stand there and lift the mast about a foot or two with one hand and pull on the mainsheet at the same time. Then move forward to the mast base and pull her up. It is this very first 1-3 feet that is the hardest and so puts the most stain on the system. Look forward to your reply when you next lift the mast.
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Guest
Thanks for the info
I am going to Lake Mead tomorrow and I am taking another fellow with me. I noticed the bottom of the gin pole is distorted. Do you think this will be a problem? When I lifted the mast to see if it was caught on something, I had the main sheet very tight yet the mast would not stay up. When I pulled the sheet tighter is when the pole started deforming.
I am going to Lake Mead tomorrow and I am taking another fellow with me. I noticed the bottom of the gin pole is distorted. Do you think this will be a problem? When I lifted the mast to see if it was caught on something, I had the main sheet very tight yet the mast would not stay up. When I pulled the sheet tighter is when the pole started deforming.
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Mark
Yes
Even when I lift the mast that first few feet whle pulling on the mainsheet the mast will still want to come back down a little until the halyard takes up all the stretch. So I might have the mast up say three to four feet and when I gently let the pressure come on the system by not holding the mast it still comes back down a foot or so. When you say the pole is distorted at the end are you talking about the very end, the tip for the end of ours is very rough as if there was a hole drilled through the pole and the pole cut through on these holes with a hack saw? Just remember the weight on the system is very very high during the first 6' of lift.
Even when I lift the mast that first few feet whle pulling on the mainsheet the mast will still want to come back down a little until the halyard takes up all the stretch. So I might have the mast up say three to four feet and when I gently let the pressure come on the system by not holding the mast it still comes back down a foot or so. When you say the pole is distorted at the end are you talking about the very end, the tip for the end of ours is very rough as if there was a hole drilled through the pole and the pole cut through on these holes with a hack saw? Just remember the weight on the system is very very high during the first 6' of lift.
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John Baumgartner
Easy job..
I have a second person at the gin pole just to make sure it doesn't go sideways, I like this job and give the crew the other jobs, winching and makeing sure the rigging is clear etc.
I have a second person at the gin pole just to make sure it doesn't go sideways, I like this job and give the crew the other jobs, winching and makeing sure the rigging is clear etc.
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Douglas Miles
Try using the winch.
I have also found the main sheet mechanical advantage to be borderline when raising the mast by myself. The salesperson called me whimpy to boost my adrenaline but I later discovered on my own that you can utilize the winch and handle to get the extra pull necessary to raise the system from it's heaviest horizontal mode. Once it is up 30 degrees or so you can easily pull it up. Having help definitely makes it easier. Enjoy!
I have also found the main sheet mechanical advantage to be borderline when raising the mast by myself. The salesperson called me whimpy to boost my adrenaline but I later discovered on my own that you can utilize the winch and handle to get the extra pull necessary to raise the system from it's heaviest horizontal mode. Once it is up 30 degrees or so you can easily pull it up. Having help definitely makes it easier. Enjoy!
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Crazy Dave Condon
Sam
Sam; It is difficult to get the mast up but with a little more information might help. When you raise the mast, I demonstrate three ways. The first being the block and tackle which is of course the mainsheet. If you want to make the block and tackle work easier, then purchase a new block and tackle that has more purchasee. More the purchase, the more you can pull the mast up easier by yourself without grunting. Use your legs and not your back to prevent back injury. When raising, do check that the mainhalyard, topping lift, any lines so that they are not catching. When you bent your pole, this may be the cause. Another item to check is the attachement of the upper shrouds at the mast for sometimes they get caught on the bolt of the mast carrier. YOu can winch the mast up and do check as it has been suggested the shroud turnbuckles so that they do not bend when the mast is nearlly all the way up. Shake em out. If you are raising the mast by hand, I teach everyone that if there is a second person, a gentle push on the back fo the mast from the cockpit say for example a 20 pound push will take maybe 50% of the pull off of you while raisng the mast at the block and tackle. As always, do check from where the mast goes up to the water for any overhead obstruction. Happy sailing Crazy dave condon
Sam; It is difficult to get the mast up but with a little more information might help. When you raise the mast, I demonstrate three ways. The first being the block and tackle which is of course the mainsheet. If you want to make the block and tackle work easier, then purchase a new block and tackle that has more purchasee. More the purchase, the more you can pull the mast up easier by yourself without grunting. Use your legs and not your back to prevent back injury. When raising, do check that the mainhalyard, topping lift, any lines so that they are not catching. When you bent your pole, this may be the cause. Another item to check is the attachement of the upper shrouds at the mast for sometimes they get caught on the bolt of the mast carrier. YOu can winch the mast up and do check as it has been suggested the shroud turnbuckles so that they do not bend when the mast is nearlly all the way up. Shake em out. If you are raising the mast by hand, I teach everyone that if there is a second person, a gentle push on the back fo the mast from the cockpit say for example a 20 pound push will take maybe 50% of the pull off of you while raisng the mast at the block and tackle. As always, do check from where the mast goes up to the water for any overhead obstruction. Happy sailing Crazy dave condon
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Jeff Peltier
A little tip
Here is what I have learned. Because of the angle you are pulling the main sheet line, there is a little extra friction. I have found that if I pull up on the main sheet and grab the same line on the other side of the pulley and pull down at the same time, it reduces the effort considerably. One of those little physics lessons learned by accident. Try it sometime. Jeff Peltier
Here is what I have learned. Because of the angle you are pulling the main sheet line, there is a little extra friction. I have found that if I pull up on the main sheet and grab the same line on the other side of the pulley and pull down at the same time, it reduces the effort considerably. One of those little physics lessons learned by accident. Try it sometime. Jeff Peltier
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