Mast? You don't need no stinkin' mast!
Hi-Welcome to the club. Here are a few additional resources that compliment this O'Day site nicely.www.trailersailor.com (excellent help on all small boats, very active)www.usmariner.org (US class organization)The US Mariner Class site is worth joining. It is cheap ~$10. The sell two books and both are worth getting. They give all sorts of tips of tuning and setting up the boat.How to step the mast? Well, I only do it once a year because I leave my boat on a mooring. But it can be done with two guys. First, attach the side and back stays. Second, have one guy in the cockpit/hatch area. Third, the other guy should be aft of the boat and should start to lift the mast (it need to be in the foot). He can only lift it so far. The guy in the boat will then take over. The 2nd guy should now run around the front and help by pulling the head stay. Easy, yes. Crazy, Definately! The more people-the easier the safer the job. There are systems and poles that people use to raise it alone. Ask on the Trailersailor board.Can it handle 3-4 seas? Yes. The boat was built by O'Day on Buzzards Bay to be used on Buzzards Bay. Like the Rhodes 19', the hull has no problem handling these seas. We were out in 4' swells today, crashing around, having a blast.But before you do this, make sure boat is in good shape. How old is it? How rigid?Feel free to respond via e-mail or on this board.CraigBoston, MA craig@110.net