I will be taking the mast down on a boat that's been sitting for 3 years. Is this something an average man can do by himself or would he need help? Are there any unforseen problems that I might encounter? Thanks
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
B
Ben Allen
Doing The Mast Two-Step
Debbie, If this will be the first to unstep a mast, I would have some help on hand. the procedure can be done single handed, I have several times, but it requires some additional pieces of equipment in order to do it safely. The method that I use is placing a gin pole A-Frame in front of the mast and leading a line back to the winch, the line is hooked to the forestay. Another method is to attach the boom to the front of the mast with some baby stays, a search on archives will give you detailed setups. On the other hand, a couple of good size guys and grunt and groan it down without to much trouble. Whichever method you decide to use, keep safety in mind first and foremost. Its about time for the sailing season to get started here in the deep south. Ben Allen Montgomery, AL "Latte Dah" O'Day 26
Debbie, If this will be the first to unstep a mast, I would have some help on hand. the procedure can be done single handed, I have several times, but it requires some additional pieces of equipment in order to do it safely. The method that I use is placing a gin pole A-Frame in front of the mast and leading a line back to the winch, the line is hooked to the forestay. Another method is to attach the boom to the front of the mast with some baby stays, a search on archives will give you detailed setups. On the other hand, a couple of good size guys and grunt and groan it down without to much trouble. Whichever method you decide to use, keep safety in mind first and foremost. Its about time for the sailing season to get started here in the deep south. Ben Allen Montgomery, AL "Latte Dah" O'Day 26
D
dave
mast
hi debbie why are you taking the mast down? there should be no need if everyhting is working ok. once tuned i leave mine up
hi debbie why are you taking the mast down? there should be no need if everyhting is working ok. once tuned i leave mine up
J
Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Mast Lowering
Debbie - Ben has some good thoughts. If I can get extra hands, here is how I like to do it. With two people next to the mast I take a halyard forward and attach it to the pulpit as a temp head stay. Then I take my mainsheet tackle and connect it between the forward chainplate and the head stay. Using the two people to control the mast side to side, I release the halyard and lower the mast on the tackle. At the end, the two people catch the mast. There are all sorts of ways to do it solo but I have not yet not been able to find a couple of helpers for ten minutes. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Debbie - Ben has some good thoughts. If I can get extra hands, here is how I like to do it. With two people next to the mast I take a halyard forward and attach it to the pulpit as a temp head stay. Then I take my mainsheet tackle and connect it between the forward chainplate and the head stay. Using the two people to control the mast side to side, I release the halyard and lower the mast on the tackle. At the end, the two people catch the mast. There are all sorts of ways to do it solo but I have not yet not been able to find a couple of helpers for ten minutes. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
P
Paul Mieszczenski
Go to the archives
Debbie, Go to the archives on the home page and click on archives. Now click on Forum Archives 2000. Type in mast lowering stepping, and then click match any word. There are many posts that offer several different ways to accomplish this task. My wife and I have raised and lowered the mast on our O'25 several times with no problem. Good luck, PM
Debbie, Go to the archives on the home page and click on archives. Now click on Forum Archives 2000. Type in mast lowering stepping, and then click match any word. There are many posts that offer several different ways to accomplish this task. My wife and I have raised and lowered the mast on our O'25 several times with no problem. Good luck, PM
E
Ed
Lowering mast singlehanded
LOL Hey Debbie, "job an average man can do?" I take it you're making work for your husband? This is a job an average woman can do. It's a good idea to lube the halyard sheaves every year and check for corrosion around any light sockets you have and apply some goop to keep the bulbs from rusting themselves to the sockets. If you can lift 100 pounds, you can lower by yourself. The mast weight is supposed to be around 60 pounds, but the mast rests on the pulpit when lowered and the overhung weight makes things a little more difficult. At some point in the process, you will need to move the mast after detatching the hinge pin on the tabernacle. It might be a good idea to sit on the mast while removing the pin or the mast will flop over the pulpit. On a 25, you can skip the ginpole business. Use the method described in the Oday Manual section of this website. Make sure your mainsheet is long enough before starting. Not including the time it takes to remove the mainsail, lowering the mast takes about 5 minutes. (Sometimes lowering only takes a few seconds but your pulpit doesn't look so good afterwards.)Stowing it takes another 10. When you raise it, use the jib winch to get it started. The 25 is a trailer boat and comes with everything you need. No special tools are required except for a few yards of 1/4 inch line.
LOL Hey Debbie, "job an average man can do?" I take it you're making work for your husband? This is a job an average woman can do. It's a good idea to lube the halyard sheaves every year and check for corrosion around any light sockets you have and apply some goop to keep the bulbs from rusting themselves to the sockets. If you can lift 100 pounds, you can lower by yourself. The mast weight is supposed to be around 60 pounds, but the mast rests on the pulpit when lowered and the overhung weight makes things a little more difficult. At some point in the process, you will need to move the mast after detatching the hinge pin on the tabernacle. It might be a good idea to sit on the mast while removing the pin or the mast will flop over the pulpit. On a 25, you can skip the ginpole business. Use the method described in the Oday Manual section of this website. Make sure your mainsheet is long enough before starting. Not including the time it takes to remove the mainsail, lowering the mast takes about 5 minutes. (Sometimes lowering only takes a few seconds but your pulpit doesn't look so good afterwards.)Stowing it takes another 10. When you raise it, use the jib winch to get it started. The 25 is a trailer boat and comes with everything you need. No special tools are required except for a few yards of 1/4 inch line.
J
Josh
Hmmm..
Ive got a 22, but the diffrence in mast height is only 2 feet, so I think it would be little diffrent between the two. On my boat, I have had no problem stepping or unstepping by myself without any extra equipment. First, probably a good idea to do it on a fairly calm day, makes it easier. Disconnect the side stays. Remove the rear pin that holds the mast to the base plate. Go back and disconnect the backstay, and hang on to it. Walk forward while keeping tension on the back stay to keep the mast from falling forward. Get into a position in which you can walk the mast forward as it tilts on the front pin like a hinge. It really isnt so much heavy as it is bulky. Set it gently down on the front pulpit. Now as stated previously, when you remove the last pin the past wants to jump up because most of the weight is out over the pulpit. I dont know if you have to SIT on it though. You can either tie it down or hold it down I haven't had too much problem because it usually rests on the top of my truck when its on the trailer. If you were in your slip or something youd obviously want to watch it so it doesnt dump off the pulpit into the river/lake/ocean. Slide it aft until the center of balance is to a point where it doesnt want to tip off the boat. lift it up and walk it back to where ever you want to put it to do what you have to do. My girlfriend hasnt had any trouble holding the mast down, so I don't know why you would. I still call it single handed because thats all she does. She's too afraid that the mast will fall to help me. You could probably even attach a weight or a bungie to hold down that end. At any rate, thats how easy it is. I think the more you complicate it, the more there is to go wrong. If anything, a helping hand can hold onto the back stay as you lower it forward, or help you bring it forward and help you set the mast down gently. It looks like it might be a big job, but that aluminum mast is pretty damned light! Josh
Ive got a 22, but the diffrence in mast height is only 2 feet, so I think it would be little diffrent between the two. On my boat, I have had no problem stepping or unstepping by myself without any extra equipment. First, probably a good idea to do it on a fairly calm day, makes it easier. Disconnect the side stays. Remove the rear pin that holds the mast to the base plate. Go back and disconnect the backstay, and hang on to it. Walk forward while keeping tension on the back stay to keep the mast from falling forward. Get into a position in which you can walk the mast forward as it tilts on the front pin like a hinge. It really isnt so much heavy as it is bulky. Set it gently down on the front pulpit. Now as stated previously, when you remove the last pin the past wants to jump up because most of the weight is out over the pulpit. I dont know if you have to SIT on it though. You can either tie it down or hold it down I haven't had too much problem because it usually rests on the top of my truck when its on the trailer. If you were in your slip or something youd obviously want to watch it so it doesnt dump off the pulpit into the river/lake/ocean. Slide it aft until the center of balance is to a point where it doesnt want to tip off the boat. lift it up and walk it back to where ever you want to put it to do what you have to do. My girlfriend hasnt had any trouble holding the mast down, so I don't know why you would. I still call it single handed because thats all she does. She's too afraid that the mast will fall to help me. You could probably even attach a weight or a bungie to hold down that end. At any rate, thats how easy it is. I think the more you complicate it, the more there is to go wrong. If anything, a helping hand can hold onto the back stay as you lower it forward, or help you bring it forward and help you set the mast down gently. It looks like it might be a big job, but that aluminum mast is pretty damned light! Josh
E
Ed
Leave side stays attached
If you use the method suggested by Oday, you will leave the side stays attached, otherwise the mast can flop over to one side or the other. The 1/4" line running from boom end to the triangle plates keeps the mast from flopping over the side. I have a tall rig and the leverage from the extended length of the mast hanging over the pulpit puts quite a load on the hinge pin. It's easy to just have a seat while removing the pin. The Oday method is stable enough to lower the mast when away from the dock, singlehanded, in order to clear low bridges or overhead wires.
If you use the method suggested by Oday, you will leave the side stays attached, otherwise the mast can flop over to one side or the other. The 1/4" line running from boom end to the triangle plates keeps the mast from flopping over the side. I have a tall rig and the leverage from the extended length of the mast hanging over the pulpit puts quite a load on the hinge pin. It's easy to just have a seat while removing the pin. The Oday method is stable enough to lower the mast when away from the dock, singlehanded, in order to clear low bridges or overhead wires.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.