Help with mast raising system

[Carl Wonderful]

Hello,

I have tried a few mast raising systems and they all worked... but all little awkward and rushed me at the most vital part when the mast is a quarter of the way up, and I don't even have time to check my shrouds to make sure they aren't being bent.

This system seems like a good way to go.. steady and controlled. It uses the jib halyard and the trailer winch. I have basically the same trailer and winch and also the white mast raising arm with roller on the stern, so I think it would work for me. Can anyone tell me if you have tried this system?

Mast raising video

Also I am confused about how they mentioned tying the jib halyard off to the winch/cleat? I don't see it tied off on the video. I know it probably sounds dumb but...in my mind it seems that wouldn't tying the jib halyard off stop the mast from being able to raise the whole way? I'm new to sailing to take it easy on me. Just trying to understand before I attempt it this way.

Thanks!!!

 

[cephius (Dave)]

That's basically how I use to raise the mast on my Catalina 22. A short bit of line tied in a loop is all it takes to connect the trailer winch strap to the jib halyard. Near the end of the raising, the shrouds take over and the mast wants to go the rest of the way up, easing the pressure on the jib halyard. I recommend practicing it at home a few times before your first launch site attempt.

 

[morbidfollower]

Ive raised the mast doing the exact same method a bunch of times with my wife. Eventually I bought a winch that has a remote so I can do it solo. Winch attaches to my trailer hitch and is powered by a small lithium battery. Raising and lowering isn't my most enjoyable part of the process but it does help to have a 2nd person, or even a 3rd but can be done by yourself after some practice and if you are in decent shape. Just need a nice level spot to do it, and ideally the wind not blasting you from the side (been there)

 

[JBP-PA]

I do it much the same way. To help prevent shrouds binding up, I tape them vertically to the lifeline with masking tape. When tension comes on them, the masking tape breaks. Others wrap tape around the toggle to keep it straight, but that never worked well for me.

For the trailer strap, I have a 2x4 that slides onto the winch and clamps onto the pulpit. The strap goes over a roller above the pulpit. This gives a better angle to start off than just the mast crutch alone. This 2x4 is used edge-on for better strength.

My mast crutch also has a roller on top. From the travel position, we put the mast on the roller and then roll the mast back until the mast base can be connected to the step. This is also a 2x4 but I find I need to provide additional support with a guy run forward or it starts to bend backwards.

I have been using my forestay for the trailer strap, with the jib halyard as backup because I was concerned the initial lift might be too much for the halyard. Once the mast is near vertical, I switch to the halyard alone on a winch while we disconnect the forestay from the strap and connect it to the stemhead. I'm thinking about reversing this because it's a hassle to switch.

I have a fractional rig, so there is no side to side support until the mast is vertical. I rig my spinaker halyard and main halyard to points just abeam the mast step and they provide side to side support until the shrouds come into play. If I have extra help, I'll just have a person on the ground hold the main halyard as necessary to counteract any side wind.

I can do this single handed, but it is much more convenient with two. One on the winch and another on the boat to rectify any snags.

As to your question, they tie off the jib halyard so it doesn't accidentally slip while they are lifting the mast. You do need to judge the length so you don't run out of trailer strap before the mast is up. Not too hard, just make sure the jib halyard end is a several feet short of the mast base when you tie it off. Also, you should NOT use the shackle to attach the strap, but tie a bowline in the end of the jib halyard (although I have been guilty of this lazy shortcut).

 

[Carl Wonderful]

Appreciate it guys!

Last thing that's still bugging me...
Attached is a still I took from that video, when they mentioned tying off the jib halyard to the winch or cleat. This is what threw me. Does this seem wrong, to tie the jib halyard off at the winch on the side of the boat? I can understand tying the jib halyard off at the bottom of the mast on a mast cleat, but this image is what confused me?

Maybe someone can help me understand this part.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

From the winch and cleat the halyard leads forward to the base of the mast, through a turning block, and up the mast. It doesn't matter where you tie off that end of the halyard, there are no forces pulling back on the mast.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

Carl:
Your C-22 has a much lighter mast than the later year C-22s. When I had my 1974 C-22 I easily stepped the mast by hand (it was a light mast) with a helper on the ground holding a tag line to steady the mast if things got sideways, which (knock on wood) thankfully, they never did. The lighter mast combined with my youth made it easy to walk the mast back, secure it in the mast step and raise it by hand.

Fast forward to today, being a good bit older, combined with a much heavier mast on my '88 New Design and quickly realized that I could not raise the new to me mast without the aid of an A-frame as suggested in C-22 National Association's tech manual and in this video:

George

 

[LakeShark]

Pro Tip: A small piece of line tied through the bottom of the shackles on the turnbuckles keeps them up so they don't snag and bend at the base of the turnbuckle.

I raise mine using the boom vang and my shrouds easily loop the end of my hand rails keeping them out of the way while raising. Stopping 1/2 yard can be done as the upper shroud at the 1/2 way point keeps the mast centered.

 

[Gene Neill]

The trailer winch in the video isn't necessary. The guy on the ground (I use my wife) just walks out in front of the truck holding a line tied to the forestay. I stand in the cockpit and give the mast an initial lift. My wife is then very easily able to raise the stick by pulling on the line. We don't use any other additional lines tied off here and there, just one long piece of rope tied to the forestay. Easy peasy.

When it is necessary to step the mast while on the water, I run that same long piece of rope from the forestay to a block at the stem fitting, then back to the cabin top, where it passes through a clutch, and wraps around a halyard winch. I hold the mast steady and watch for turnbuckle problems while my wife grinds the winch. Slow and steady, up goes the mast. The clutch allows you to stop in mid lift at any time.

You could use this method on land also, it just takes a couple minutes longer. Out parking lot method takes the stick from horizontal to vertical in four or five seconds.

Of course, all of this is based on having two people. If I sailed solo, I would use a gin pole. I have a friend who can raise his stick solo, using a gin pole, as fast as my wife and I can raise ours together.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

The trailer winch in the video isn't necessary. (Snip)...

Of course, all of this is based on having two people. If I sailed solo, I would use a gin pole. I have a friend who can raise his stick solo, using a gin pole, as fast as my wife and I can raise ours together.

Gene:

In your opinion, is a "gin pole" more stable in practice than an "A-Frame" ? I've only used the A-Frame twice so far. Once for proof of concept and the second time for launching to place WH in her slip.

George

 

[AaronD]

Gene:

In your opinion, is a "gin pole" more stable in practice than an "A-Frame" ? I've only used the A-Frame twice so far. Once for proof of concept and the second time for launching to place WH in her slip.

George

An A-frame will generally be more stable, but the C-22 mast is light. We've used a gin pole (with a brake winch) on our C-22 for years, and have been very happy with that. On our new-to-us Classic 26 (with a longer and heavier mast), we use an A-frame.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

An A-frame will generally be more stable, but the C-22 mast is light. We've used a gin pole (with a brake winch) on our C-22 for years, and have been very happy with that. On our new-to-us Classic 26 (with a longer and heavier mast), we use an A-frame.

Thanks for that reply AaronD.

George

 

[Gene Neill]

Agreed with @AaronD. Nothing is pushing the mast from side to side. I would not bother with an A frame.