With help from the forum and archives, I put together a mast raising system similar to Peter Suah's and Mark Major's design. the intent is to raise the mast single handedly. The bipod design with mainsheet works great but I've enountered an obstacle with the mast crutch. Raising the crutch to the up position and lifting the mast (Kenyon) onto the crutch is still a 2 man Job. Has anyone come up with a process to raise the crutch and lift the mast onto it? Could it be that I need to raise it before I move the mast back? The crutch seems too weak structurely to allow this.. thanks in advance Folks! /Chuck S/V Windsongs 85 H23
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
Raise the crutch with the mast on it
The trick is to leave the mast in the crutch the whole time. First slide it forward on the crutch until the base meets the mounting plate on the cabin top. Pin it in place. Then go to the stern of the boat and raise the crutch until it is at its max height. This is a one-man job as the mast is very light. Attach the jib halyard and mainsheet to the bipod legs and finish raising the mast. I'm curious. If you take the mast off the crutch first, how do you get the base pin into place? How is the mast supported? Peter H23 "Raven"
The trick is to leave the mast in the crutch the whole time. First slide it forward on the crutch until the base meets the mounting plate on the cabin top. Pin it in place. Then go to the stern of the boat and raise the crutch until it is at its max height. This is a one-man job as the mast is very light. Attach the jib halyard and mainsheet to the bipod legs and finish raising the mast. I'm curious. If you take the mast off the crutch first, how do you get the base pin into place? How is the mast supported? Peter H23 "Raven"
C
Chuck
You're Right Peter
Peter, I indeed keep the mast on the crutch the entire process. My issue is that I can't pin the mast to the tabernacle with the crutch down once I move it in place. The angle of the mast is such that the front end of the storm hood (pop top) doesn't allow the mast to get down far enough to line up the pin holes. If I raise the mast crutch before I pin, then I can line up the pin holes. My dilema is if I raise the crutch before I walk the mast back, the job is easier since I'm only lifting teh top end of the mast but the crutch seems to be to flimsey to move the mast even with the roller I've installed. Other option is what I've been doing which is to move the mast first, but must deal with liting the full weight of the mast. It seems as if Hunter may have changed the design between 85 and 87 to allow the mast to be pinned while the crutch is in the down position. It's still an ordeal anyway one does it, Have you rigged a crank or lift of any sort? Also, do you have a Z-spar or Kenyon mast? Thanks, /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Peter, I indeed keep the mast on the crutch the entire process. My issue is that I can't pin the mast to the tabernacle with the crutch down once I move it in place. The angle of the mast is such that the front end of the storm hood (pop top) doesn't allow the mast to get down far enough to line up the pin holes. If I raise the mast crutch before I pin, then I can line up the pin holes. My dilema is if I raise the crutch before I walk the mast back, the job is easier since I'm only lifting teh top end of the mast but the crutch seems to be to flimsey to move the mast even with the roller I've installed. Other option is what I've been doing which is to move the mast first, but must deal with liting the full weight of the mast. It seems as if Hunter may have changed the design between 85 and 87 to allow the mast to be pinned while the crutch is in the down position. It's still an ordeal anyway one does it, Have you rigged a crank or lift of any sort? Also, do you have a Z-spar or Kenyon mast? Thanks, /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
C
Chuck
Peter, Answer to your Question
Peter, Sorry, I didn't answer your question directly. I never take the mast off the crutch except to lift the crutch: the mast weight is relieved to lift the crutch. It's also a pain to slip the bolt into the crutch with the weight of the mast on your back! /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Peter, Sorry, I didn't answer your question directly. I never take the mast off the crutch except to lift the crutch: the mast weight is relieved to lift the crutch. It's also a pain to slip the bolt into the crutch with the weight of the mast on your back! /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
M
Mark Major
H23 Mast raising crutch-How I do it
I adapted a bow roller on the top of the crutch, and roll the mast over it as I step it. When the spreaders of my Kenyon mast just pass over the roller it's now top heavy and the foot is over the tabernacle. I tie a line from foot to tabernacle, then go aft to raise the crutch. With the mast on my shoulder I lift it off the crutch, raise the crutch, and slide the pin in. I've made this a bit "easier" by painting the sliding part of the crutch red where it should remain in the lower tube. I then pin the mast, and am ready to raise. I'm sure as we age, or after breaking that flimsy crutch, one of us will adapt a tongue jack to our new crutch and save our backs.
I adapted a bow roller on the top of the crutch, and roll the mast over it as I step it. When the spreaders of my Kenyon mast just pass over the roller it's now top heavy and the foot is over the tabernacle. I tie a line from foot to tabernacle, then go aft to raise the crutch. With the mast on my shoulder I lift it off the crutch, raise the crutch, and slide the pin in. I've made this a bit "easier" by painting the sliding part of the crutch red where it should remain in the lower tube. I then pin the mast, and am ready to raise. I'm sure as we age, or after breaking that flimsy crutch, one of us will adapt a tongue jack to our new crutch and save our backs.
Maybe it depends on the mast
I have the real bendy Z-Spar mast with the tapered top. It is so light that I can pick it up in the middle with one hand. I guess the fact that I'm also 6'-2" and the wrong side of 250 lbs probably helps too. On a separate note, the metal crutch may be flexible but it's not flimsy. I've used them on a couple of ocasions and they work fine. Of course that was with the aforementoned Z-Spar "mast lite". I agree with Mark Major, the roller make a huge difference. My current crutch is made from a 2x4 and some marine ply. There's no roller or height adjustment but it still works fine. With my mast-raising bipod, I can raise the mast single-handed from near horizontal. Once the the base is restrained (I use a piece of light nylon line) I can stand on the cabin top on the main hatch, support the mast in the middle with one hand and pull in on the mainsheet with the other hand to raise it. Stay tuned for the infomercial!! :^) Peter H23 "Raven"
I have the real bendy Z-Spar mast with the tapered top. It is so light that I can pick it up in the middle with one hand. I guess the fact that I'm also 6'-2" and the wrong side of 250 lbs probably helps too. On a separate note, the metal crutch may be flexible but it's not flimsy. I've used them on a couple of ocasions and they work fine. Of course that was with the aforementoned Z-Spar "mast lite". I agree with Mark Major, the roller make a huge difference. My current crutch is made from a 2x4 and some marine ply. There's no roller or height adjustment but it still works fine. With my mast-raising bipod, I can raise the mast single-handed from near horizontal. Once the the base is restrained (I use a piece of light nylon line) I can stand on the cabin top on the main hatch, support the mast in the middle with one hand and pull in on the mainsheet with the other hand to raise it. Stay tuned for the infomercial!! :^) Peter H23 "Raven"
C
Chuck
Thanks Guys
Peter and Mark, I think it's a couple of things: first, sounds like the Kenyon Mast si heavier than the Z-spar, 2nd, I did not use a piece of line to hold the base to the tabernacle while I went to lift the mast. Also, my roller is not very high. I think my 2 next refinements will be to use the line idea with the tabernacle; that will allow me to go aft and lift the mast as a lever, and next to raise my roller a little further (while the crutch is down) which may raise the mast just enough to clear the sea hood. Thanks again for the help! BTW: Peter, why did you go with your 2X4 crutch, did your boat come with one? /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Peter and Mark, I think it's a couple of things: first, sounds like the Kenyon Mast si heavier than the Z-spar, 2nd, I did not use a piece of line to hold the base to the tabernacle while I went to lift the mast. Also, my roller is not very high. I think my 2 next refinements will be to use the line idea with the tabernacle; that will allow me to go aft and lift the mast as a lever, and next to raise my roller a little further (while the crutch is down) which may raise the mast just enough to clear the sea hood. Thanks again for the help! BTW: Peter, why did you go with your 2X4 crutch, did your boat come with one? /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Why I have a 2x4 crutch
When I bought my boat it was in a wet slip and I kept it in the water for three years so I never had to lower the mast. By the time I realized the steel crutch wasn't missing, so was the previous owner. First I borrowed a steel crutch from a friend to trailer the boat a couple of times. Then I moved the boat into my yard for a major overhaul so I returned the loaner. I needed a crutch in a hurry and had the wood and tools in the garage...and the rest is history. Peter H23 "Raven"
When I bought my boat it was in a wet slip and I kept it in the water for three years so I never had to lower the mast. By the time I realized the steel crutch wasn't missing, so was the previous owner. First I borrowed a steel crutch from a friend to trailer the boat a couple of times. Then I moved the boat into my yard for a major overhaul so I returned the loaner. I needed a crutch in a hurry and had the wood and tools in the garage...and the rest is history. Peter H23 "Raven"
- Status
- Not open for further replies.