Step away and go sailing
The process of stepping a keel stepped mast is nearly the same as stepping a deck stepped mast except you have to feed it through the hole (partners) and run it down to the mast step atop the keel without wiping out any surfaces on the bulkhead, furniture or floor. So, someone has to be down below guiding the butt and offering orders through an open hatch to be passed on to the guy running the gin pole, crane or whatever device is used to hoist the mast. When hoisting the mast it is a good thing to find the balance point which will be below the spreaders if a single set or between the spreaders if a double set and then tie a sturdy line from the hoisting loop to the gooseneck fitting or some place that can take the load or weight of the mast. If you have never done this before it might be wise to have someone who knows what they are doing show you the first time. Perhaps the marina does it for you anyway. There will be partner blocks or wedges (sometimes rubber or wood) that should be inserted around the mast at the partner to keep the mast in the middle. Since you have the boat you have, the mast is probably similar to a telephone pole (not tapered or bendy) so you need not be concerned about prebend. Spartite is a product that you can pour around your mast partner hole which will give it a good seal from water and you can use it in lieu of the partner blocks. Read the instructions. Otherwise you need to have mast hole material (boot) which can be home-made, made by a sailmaker or you can use tape made for this purpose or something like Sailing Specialties' universal mast boot cut (by you ) to fit. Large (long) hose clamps will secure it at the top and bottom. You can store the mast up each winter so you don't have to sweat out doing this every spring and unstepping your mast each fall. Happy Sailing
