Hello,
I was just given an O'day 20 and had everything setup for a guy at the marina to pretty much do everything when I picked up the boat to trailer it. He backed out and now me and my dad who have very little sailing knowledge have to do everything our self. Can anyone guide us on how to properly unstep the mast? Any help would be great!
Thanks,
Sean
Sean,
If there is a wind blowing, make sure that you have it coming from the stern when you lower the mast. Make sure the boat is level and it would help if you could prop something up in the stern to hold the mast up until you can unpin the tabernacle after the mast is down. A short step ladder sometimes will work for this,or you could take two 2X4s and bolt them together to resemble a giant pair of scissors. Then tie it off to your stern rail if you have one. The mast will sit in the apex of the 2X4s if you make it high enough to clear the companionway hatch at the top of the cabin.
Once you get her home you can build a permanent temporary mast crutch for your boat. I built one years ago that was adjustable for different heights. Years later, I installed a small roller into it and what a difference that made.
I used to attach a single sheave block to my bow plate with a 60' 3/8" line running through it. One end of the line was attached to the jib halyard shackle and the halyard was raised and cleated off at the mast.
When I was ready to let the mast down, I'd take this line and bring it around the mast and (
over the goose neck fitting so it wouldn't slide down) Then pull the slack out of the line and tie it off on the bow cleat. The fore stay could then be removed without the mast falling back, and when I was ready to lower the mast I'd just untie the line and hold it as I stood behind the mast holding bracing it with my body and letting it down slow and easy. At some point in time when the mast gets low, the line is too acute and can no longer help in lowering the mast.
Later, you may want to construct a Gin Pole for mast raising/lowering.
Good luck with the boat and if you have addition questions, you know were to come.
Joe
