H26 Mast raising/lowering

[Fred]

I'm sitting here with some trepidation thinking about lowering the mast on my H26 (1995) this week. The boat is new to me and the first experience raising the mast did not go smoothly. I found that it was virtually impossible to winch up the mast without having someone push the mast up manually.

Now I am concerned about the clam cleat on the main sheet tackle when lowering the mast. When the main sheet tackle is under high tension it is not easy to get the sheet out of the cleat. I suspect that with the angle it is at when fixed in the anchor well it will be much more difficult.

I had a thought..... if I reversed the tackle so that the cleated end was attached to the gin pole and removed the sheet from the last sheave on this block then I would have a block and tackle without the interference of the jam cleat. I would then wind the sheet around the cabin mounted winch to bring the mast down. I could feet the sheet through a rope clutch so that I could lock it at any point while lowering the mast. I would lose some mechanical advantage in the main sheet block and tackle (4:1 --> 3:1) but would not have problems with the cleat.

Has anyone tried this before?

The other issue that I am concerned about is having to loosen the whole rigging (shrouds) in order to disconnect and reconnect the forestay. This is a bit of a pain.

 

[isaksp00]

I use a block and tackle on my H23 - not the main sheet rig, but a separate one similar to it (without the cam cleat) that came from the PO. He had attached a big aluminum pole (prob 2 inch diam) to the upright member of the boat trailer and a stout eye bolt through it, which is where I attach the lower end of my tackle. That eye is maybe a bit above deck level. The free end of the lifting line runs from the lower block assembly (the one on the trailer pole, not the one on the gin pole), aftward through the jib sheet deck block and to the jib sheet winch. Use of the winch makes it fairly easy to raise the mast, and I don't need help lifting it - just guiding it so it does not sway sideways (though I did rig a sort of baby stay arrangement to help with sway, after I once pulled the mast bottom fitting out of the mast extrusion as it swayed).

 

[cephius (Dave)]

You can keep the line from entering the clam cleat with your foot. This is better than reversing the tackle. As the block rises, the angle on the cleat will be poor, making it difficult to stop, if needed.

The force of the mast is less than the wind in the main. You should have no problems releasing the line from the clam cleat.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Fred;

Ok this is what I will tell you to do. Wear shoes and push down with your foot to realease that line and you will be fine. Never with your hand not sandals. I was heavily involved with these boats, top dealer for all of them so this is based on experience and knowledge.

 

[Fred]

Thanks all for input. I will be lowering my mast tomorrow in preparation for our trip to the North Channel (Georgian Bay). So my understanding is that lowering the mast is always a two person operation. One person at the bow (to release the cam cleat with his foot) and a second paying out the (main sheet) on the cab top winch.

 

[BrianW]

Crazy Dave's method works! He's right about it being a pinch point too! BrianW

 

[Fred]

Lowered the mast today. It went very well using the method proposed. I'm not sure why I had so many issues raising the mast the first time. I'll be trying it again in a day or two. Thank-you all.

 

[Igetit]

I need to lower the mast on my H270 to re-thread my jib furler halyard. Is it safe to do with the boat in the water? I'm on a calm flat water lake, tied up in a slip.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Yes. See this thread for more opinions:
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=163296&referrerid=76467

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The 270 and 260 masts are the same. In the past, when I lost the halyard at the top, I used the main halyard but loosened up all the shrouds with alot of attention to holding the mast so it would not sway sideways even with the struts.

The other is to treat this as if lowering by hand but have three people doing this.

 

[Igetit]

Thanks Dave, I'm assuming that at 190, I'm too heavy to climb it with a mast mate or similar apparatus?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Yes. if you have someone lighter no more than 140, it would be ok