How to best support H23 mast when raising/lowering

[isaksp00]

When I lowered mine at end of last summer, my helpers did not support side sway properly, and when at about 45 degrees, it swayed and snapped the bottom mast fitting off the mast extrusion. It should be easy to fix - just pop rivet back on, as the fitting and extrusion are OK (rivets sacrificed themselves).

However, now that launching is around 2 1/2 months from now, I want to implement some kind of baby stay or other system to better support it. Bottom attach point of these temporary stays would have to be at same vertical height as mast pivot point. I have seen posts where people attached chains to lifeline stanchions and then attached stay to center of chain, but I'm not too keen on that.

I am thinking of building a pair of wood supports that sit on deck, and have a cutout to wrap over the lip at the edge of the deck, holding it from moving side-to-side. I'd use some kind of u-bolt and a ratcheted web strap I have to hold the pair firmly down - strap would wrap under the hull. Prob use an aluminum bar or similar (maybe PVC pipe) across the top of the cabin roof to position them sideways. A u-bolt would support bottom of baby stays, with wood thick enough to position u-bolt at same height as mast pivot. Stays would be either wire or maybe a low-stretch braided line I have. I'd form a chain loop around mast, attach upper end of baby stays to it, and haul the loop up to bottom of spreaders with main halyard (well, "sideways" since the mast is now down).

A bit complex to build. Does anyone have other solutions they are happy with? Maybe use PVC pipe as the stay, except what would it mount to at bottom, other than something like this contraption?

Thanks, Peter

 

[peptobysmol]

Hey Peter!
Looks like you have put a lot of thought into the mast raising system. Take a look at Mark Major's Mast raising system right here on HOF . No need to reinvent the wheel. There are many other varieties, but I knew where MM's system could be easily viewed. Besides, his design uses a metal gin pole instead of a bulky wood one. He is able to single handedly raise the mast.
Good Luck!
Brad

 

[JoeWhite]

I am not sure if you have toe rail - I used the toe rail on my 1984 25.5 Hunter to create the idea that you are thinking of. I have more photos if you would like to see them. My mast also swung 45 degrees one way and bent the hinge - but I straightened it and I did not want that to happen again. The 3 screw rods creates a stationary point that is in line with the hinge pin and keeps the mast straight in the middle while it is being raised. I tie a harness to this point and connect a line around the mast and pull up with the main halyard up to the bottom of the spreaders and pull them tight. This works for lowering as-well. Let me know if it worked for you. My mast I think weighed about 300 lb.. haro_b@att.net

 

[isaksp00]

Thanks for the info - that MM post is an idea I'll think about.

No, the H23 lacks a toerail - else I'd use chains, or rods like you did, Joe. It has a kind of ridge, roughly an inch high and wide, molded into the deck, and of course that has no holes as attachment points. Whatever I do, assuming it is well fixed, it'd serve much the same purpose as yours. What sort of line/wire do you use for the harness itself? Have you found that the mast is quite stable with these baby stays?

 

[inarathree]

I have seen a couple videos on youtube where poles were attached to the toe rail and then to the sail track, in an 'A' shape. As the mast goes up, the supports slide down the sail track. There is a similar system where they attached the supports to the hand rails on top of the cabin. Not as wide of a base, but same idea.

 

[C Jones]

Here it is, I used my main sheet when I lower and raised mine in the past.
I plan to use cables for side support and I have the Hunter Gin pole on my h23
Make sure your rear crutch is at least 6' over the stern
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...emid=267&cat_id=7&aid=6969&page=article&mn=23

 

[isaksp00]

OK, thanks for all the comments.
The use of solid side supports as per the M Major post is interesting, in that it solves the "pivot point must be at same height as mast base" problem by letting the mount point on the mast slide up and down. Not quite sure how best to create that sliding mast sleeve, though.

I see he uses it as the mount point for the lifting line as well. I don't do it that way - my prev owner built a large aluminum bracket and drilled a pair of holes across base of mast (ouch!). U bracket bolts to mast, with open end of U facing forward (when mast is raised). Thick walled aluminum tube is used as gin pole (this has to be like 3 in OD), bolted into U. I use jib halyard rigged to eye at end of that pole, and block/tackle that he provided to haul it down to forestay attachment in anchor locker.

I had not thought of using main track as the sliding mechanism. Not sure I like it - it'd be a bit tough to engineer a slide, and I don't like the idea of the sideways forces pulling in a way that may bend open the track. I think a short length of chain around mast as loop seems easier and also more secure.

I will either go with a set of solid supports like M major, or maybe build wood supports to hold eyes at right height just above gunwales. If I do latter, I'll try to post the design as photos (assuming it works, of course).