I've seen several postings complaining of the amount of strength required to raise or lower the mast, with or without a furler. We have a CDI FF3 furler and the Mast Raising Sytem that Hunter offers. I have raised and lowered the mast single handed many times with little effort. The system is great! It includes bridle wires to center the mast on the way up or down, as well as a pivot pole inserted near the base of the mast to provide leverage. Use the main sheet 4:1 connected between the pivot pole and the anchorwell U-Bolt and run the tail back to either winch. Connect the topping lift to the pivot pole and theirs nother left to do but crank away. No sweat! Really! Jeff "Festivity" H26
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Harvey Small
Topping Lift?
Are you sure you connect the topping lift to mast-raising pole? I've been using the jib halyard, and it's a lot of work. Maybe next time I'll try the main halyard. Does anyone else have any experience or advice?
Are you sure you connect the topping lift to mast-raising pole? I've been using the jib halyard, and it's a lot of work. Maybe next time I'll try the main halyard. Does anyone else have any experience or advice?
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Bruce Ahrens - Forty 2
I used the Jib halyard also!
I also used the jib halyard last weekend for my first mask raising. It was tough for the first 10 feet or so, but I didn't try the winch either. Live and learn! P.S. After fighting with the forstay pin (leaning upside down over the railing in 95 degree heat) for what seemed like forever, I noticed that I had the fuller on backwards. I'll never do that again!
I also used the jib halyard last weekend for my first mask raising. It was tough for the first 10 feet or so, but I didn't try the winch either. Live and learn! P.S. After fighting with the forstay pin (leaning upside down over the railing in 95 degree heat) for what seemed like forever, I noticed that I had the fuller on backwards. I'll never do that again!
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Dave Condon
Mast raising
Raising the mast by one who has strength is great but winching up is the preferred way as by 13 year daughter does using the jib halyard. If there are two people and you want to get the mast up quickly, I suggest one person pull the mast raising line while the other person stands in the rear of the cockpit and push the mast up with a 10-15 pound push moving forward as the mast goes up. Faster and easier.
Raising the mast by one who has strength is great but winching up is the preferred way as by 13 year daughter does using the jib halyard. If there are two people and you want to get the mast up quickly, I suggest one person pull the mast raising line while the other person stands in the rear of the cockpit and push the mast up with a 10-15 pound push moving forward as the mast goes up. Faster and easier.
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Michael Bell
Using the trailer winch?
I’ve not tried this yet, but I’ve seen in done on other (makes of) boats. The boat has to be on the trailer obviously, and instead of using the main sheet, the strap from trailer winch is brought up the bow of the boat. (In our case, with the H26, over the cradle that holds the mast when it’s down). Then, you would raise the mast with the trailer winch – and be right there to insert the pin for the forward stay
oller furling. Sounds like it would work – doesn’t it? Wish someone else would try it first – then let me know. I’ve had my mast raising accident for the year. Forgot to put in the two little side stays, mast part way up, wind gust, mast blown down off the side of the boat, base piece in bottom of mast ripped out. Ugly story.
I’ve not tried this yet, but I’ve seen in done on other (makes of) boats. The boat has to be on the trailer obviously, and instead of using the main sheet, the strap from trailer winch is brought up the bow of the boat. (In our case, with the H26, over the cradle that holds the mast when it’s down). Then, you would raise the mast with the trailer winch – and be right there to insert the pin for the forward stay
oller furling. Sounds like it would work – doesn’t it? Wish someone else would try it first – then let me know. I’ve had my mast raising accident for the year. Forgot to put in the two little side stays, mast part way up, wind gust, mast blown down off the side of the boat, base piece in bottom of mast ripped out. Ugly story.
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Mike Pajewski
I follow Hunter's Owner's Manual
I always follow the owner's manual. This uses the jib halyard to the top of the pole and the mainsheet to the bottom. To get the most leverage, it is important to have the jib halyard snug enough so that the gin pole is perpendicular to the mast. I think we fight a lot of halyard stretch at first. Oh yeah, I pulled my mast step out last year. I'll not forget the jumper wires again, for sure. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
I always follow the owner's manual. This uses the jib halyard to the top of the pole and the mainsheet to the bottom. To get the most leverage, it is important to have the jib halyard snug enough so that the gin pole is perpendicular to the mast. I think we fight a lot of halyard stretch at first. Oh yeah, I pulled my mast step out last year. I'll not forget the jumper wires again, for sure. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
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Rick Webb
Electric Winch
Using the upper end of the trailer sounds interesting. You could do that by attaching a line to the trailer and then to the blocks. The advantages I see are you are on the ground instead of what seems like twenty feet in the air as the trailer bounces around and it is just a few steps to the shrouds to make sure they are not binding. Now if I put an electric winch on the boat I could raise the mast without any effort at all. I will let someone else try it first though. It is not that difficult to do the way the factory says to. Has anyone developed a checklist for mast raising and lowering? In the Air Force we use them religiously for even the most mundane routines on the plane. It has saved many from making stupid mistakes that could be very costly. My plan was to make one laminate it and attach it to the inside of the anchor well door. I'll post it when I get around to doing it.
Using the upper end of the trailer sounds interesting. You could do that by attaching a line to the trailer and then to the blocks. The advantages I see are you are on the ground instead of what seems like twenty feet in the air as the trailer bounces around and it is just a few steps to the shrouds to make sure they are not binding. Now if I put an electric winch on the boat I could raise the mast without any effort at all. I will let someone else try it first though. It is not that difficult to do the way the factory says to. Has anyone developed a checklist for mast raising and lowering? In the Air Force we use them religiously for even the most mundane routines on the plane. It has saved many from making stupid mistakes that could be very costly. My plan was to make one laminate it and attach it to the inside of the anchor well door. I'll post it when I get around to doing it.
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Jack Bristow
Checklist
I have developed a checklist for raising and lowering the mast (also learned in the Air Force) which helps us raise the mast only once per outing. Previously we would raise it, remember something, put it down and fix that then raise it again. Also have experience with forgetting side stays, pulling out mast base etc. Not a fun way to start a sail. Unfortunately the checklist is 450 miles away with the boat in Minnesota but will be going there Friday and will put it in a post hoping it will help someone else. Jack Bristow H-26 Discovery
I have developed a checklist for raising and lowering the mast (also learned in the Air Force) which helps us raise the mast only once per outing. Previously we would raise it, remember something, put it down and fix that then raise it again. Also have experience with forgetting side stays, pulling out mast base etc. Not a fun way to start a sail. Unfortunately the checklist is 450 miles away with the boat in Minnesota but will be going there Friday and will put it in a post hoping it will help someone else. Jack Bristow H-26 Discovery
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Rick Webb
Thanks, Smiling Jack
I leave tomorrow for about two weeks in Germany. I am looking forward to seeing your checklist. Last time we went up and down three times before we got everything straight. This is a wonderful use of the internet helping each other out like this. Remind me to thank Al Gore next time I see him for inventing it. I'll miss being on my boat but a couple of Rhine River Cruises should help.
I leave tomorrow for about two weeks in Germany. I am looking forward to seeing your checklist. Last time we went up and down three times before we got everything straight. This is a wonderful use of the internet helping each other out like this. Remind me to thank Al Gore next time I see him for inventing it. I'll miss being on my boat but a couple of Rhine River Cruises should help.
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