Thanks for all the good information on my previous questions. Can anyone tell me if the mast on the H23.5 (with mast raising system) can be done by one person and approx. how long it takes to raise/trim the mast? Thanks!
Mast raising on 23.5: Truly a one-person job?
- Thread starter erik14752
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I can do it myself
Erik, I can raise the mast on my 240 myself. It's not easy but do -able. Prevents fights with the wife doing it myself.......she thinks I get bossy when it comes to setting up the boat.....if she'd keep moving I wouldn't have to tell her what to do. We can get it all done in just under two hours including transferring everything from the vehicle to the boat etc.
Erik, I can raise the mast on my 240 myself. It's not easy but do -able. Prevents fights with the wife doing it myself.......she thinks I get bossy when it comes to setting up the boat.....if she'd keep moving I wouldn't have to tell her what to do. We can get it all done in just under two hours including transferring everything from the vehicle to the boat etc.
I do it
We have a H26 and I raise the mast, by myself, mind you I only do it maybe once a season and I actually find it easier to do it myself Ditto the previous post about the arguments. Just take your time and don't stress. Make sure your side stays don't bind (plenty of advice in the archives) and I guess the main point is have fun, after all it is a boat, and the whole point is to enjoy it!
We have a H26 and I raise the mast, by myself, mind you I only do it maybe once a season and I actually find it easier to do it myself Ditto the previous post about the arguments. Just take your time and don't stress. Make sure your side stays don't bind (plenty of advice in the archives) and I guess the main point is have fun, after all it is a boat, and the whole point is to enjoy it!
I have done it too....but...
It is faster (usually) and easier with two. On occasion, I have rasied and lowered the mast of our 23.5 myself, but it is easier with two. Thankfully the Admiral is a natural around our 23.5 and knows what needs to happen to raise/lower the mast safely and quickly. That being said, we only touch the mast twice a year. Once at the beginning of the season, and once at the end of the season. We slip her in between at the lake.
It is faster (usually) and easier with two. On occasion, I have rasied and lowered the mast of our 23.5 myself, but it is easier with two. Thankfully the Admiral is a natural around our 23.5 and knows what needs to happen to raise/lower the mast safely and quickly. That being said, we only touch the mast twice a year. Once at the beginning of the season, and once at the end of the season. We slip her in between at the lake.
I do mine single handed all the time..
I used to have a small 16' precision, and I can say the H23.5 is easier than that was. Just make sure you follow all the steps in order remembering to snap closed all the shackels, and tighten all the mini stays. I leave the side stays fastened all the time and once adjusted you should not have to readjust unless you don't like the way its trimmed. I use the main sheet block on my gin pole to pull the mast forward enough to pin the head stay at the right tension. Good luck
I used to have a small 16' precision, and I can say the H23.5 is easier than that was. Just make sure you follow all the steps in order remembering to snap closed all the shackels, and tighten all the mini stays. I leave the side stays fastened all the time and once adjusted you should not have to readjust unless you don't like the way its trimmed. I use the main sheet block on my gin pole to pull the mast forward enough to pin the head stay at the right tension. Good luck
Yep....a one person job
Eric, Make sure the side (baby) stays are used or the mast can fall over. If you have someone assist by standing in the cockpit seats and lifting the mast over their head, it makes it easier to get started. Make sure the base of the shrouds are vertical and the T ball fittings (top of the shrouds) are in the correct position. Something to note: My boat came with a CDI rollerfurler. When I bought the boat, I was a little disappointed because the last raising seemed more difficult than what I thought it should be. Last summer the clew of my jib ripped out while sailing in 25knot winds. I removed the jib from the furler and lowered the mast for the trip home. When I got the jib back from the sailmaker, I raised the mast so installing the jib would be easier. I was SHOCKED. The mast was very easy to raise without the weight of the job on it. The RF and jib makes raising the mast a lot more difficult. My wife feels more secure with the RF on this boat than she did on other boats we have owned that didn't have a RF. If it weren't for my wife loving the RF, I'd be real tempted to switch to regular 'hank on' sails, especially for daysailing. Mike
Eric, Make sure the side (baby) stays are used or the mast can fall over. If you have someone assist by standing in the cockpit seats and lifting the mast over their head, it makes it easier to get started. Make sure the base of the shrouds are vertical and the T ball fittings (top of the shrouds) are in the correct position. Something to note: My boat came with a CDI rollerfurler. When I bought the boat, I was a little disappointed because the last raising seemed more difficult than what I thought it should be. Last summer the clew of my jib ripped out while sailing in 25knot winds. I removed the jib from the furler and lowered the mast for the trip home. When I got the jib back from the sailmaker, I raised the mast so installing the jib would be easier. I was SHOCKED. The mast was very easy to raise without the weight of the job on it. The RF and jib makes raising the mast a lot more difficult. My wife feels more secure with the RF on this boat than she did on other boats we have owned that didn't have a RF. If it weren't for my wife loving the RF, I'd be real tempted to switch to regular 'hank on' sails, especially for daysailing. Mike
Time required to raise the mast
I don't rush when launching but I'd break it down as follows: Unsecuring everything, ensuring all of the halyards, shrouds, and lines are in the proper place, and moving the mast into position - 5 minutes Setting up the ginpole, baby stays, and mainsheet to raise the mast - 5 minutes Raising the mast, securing the forestay, and removing, and stowing the MRS equipment - 5 minutes Realising you goofed, dropping the mast, making the corrections, and raising the mast again - nevermind
Seriously, It should take less than 15 minutes to get the mast raised. Installing the boom, sail, jibsheets, loading the boat with stuff, and prepping to launch can take another 30 minutes. I normally have everything 'ready to go' and laid out in the cabin where it can be reached easily to save time. I don't use my mainsheet to raise the mast. I have a dedicated 'mainsheet' I use for the MRS that allows me to keep my mainsheet attached to the boom. It normally takes 30-45 minutes to launch. That's if no one stops to talk. The Mast Raising System gets a lot of comments and questions from older men. If I'm at a 'strange' ramp, I'll spend a few moments watching other boats looking for potential problems. Hope this helps, Mike
I don't rush when launching but I'd break it down as follows: Unsecuring everything, ensuring all of the halyards, shrouds, and lines are in the proper place, and moving the mast into position - 5 minutes Setting up the ginpole, baby stays, and mainsheet to raise the mast - 5 minutes Raising the mast, securing the forestay, and removing, and stowing the MRS equipment - 5 minutes Realising you goofed, dropping the mast, making the corrections, and raising the mast again - nevermind
Seriously, It should take less than 15 minutes to get the mast raised. Installing the boom, sail, jibsheets, loading the boat with stuff, and prepping to launch can take another 30 minutes. I normally have everything 'ready to go' and laid out in the cabin where it can be reached easily to save time. I don't use my mainsheet to raise the mast. I have a dedicated 'mainsheet' I use for the MRS that allows me to keep my mainsheet attached to the boom. It normally takes 30-45 minutes to launch. That's if no one stops to talk. The Mast Raising System gets a lot of comments and questions from older men. If I'm at a 'strange' ramp, I'll spend a few moments watching other boats looking for potential problems. Hope this helps, Mike
Raising the mast
on my 260 is similar to soloing's setup except that I use the trailer winch instead of his electric setup. I use a sheave attatched to the pulpit for the cable to go over and raise it while standing on the trailer tongue. You can see exactly whats going on and you are out from under the mast while raising it. If you need to stop in the middle of raising, the ratchet on the winch will hold things in place. Very safe, very easy. As others have stated, once you get your routine down, it is not hard. it takes me about 45-50 minutes to dunk the boat. I use a checklist similar to Georges and have also found that "help" only slows you down and increases the chance for error.
on my 260 is similar to soloing's setup except that I use the trailer winch instead of his electric setup. I use a sheave attatched to the pulpit for the cable to go over and raise it while standing on the trailer tongue. You can see exactly whats going on and you are out from under the mast while raising it. If you need to stop in the middle of raising, the ratchet on the winch will hold things in place. Very safe, very easy. As others have stated, once you get your routine down, it is not hard. it takes me about 45-50 minutes to dunk the boat. I use a checklist similar to Georges and have also found that "help" only slows you down and increases the chance for error.
I use the mainsheet
I use the mainsheet on the jib halyard. No gin pole, yes baby stays. The pole is nice though, as long as it is rigidly secured to the mast. my first one wasn't, it used 2 U brackets, and the day it slid over to the side sucked! I used to use the pole with no tackle. Now i use a tackle with no pole, i het the mast to about 25 degrees (which is standing on the cockpit seats with it on my shoulder) and then pull on the mainsheet and up she goes.
I use the mainsheet on the jib halyard. No gin pole, yes baby stays. The pole is nice though, as long as it is rigidly secured to the mast. my first one wasn't, it used 2 U brackets, and the day it slid over to the side sucked! I used to use the pole with no tackle. Now i use a tackle with no pole, i het the mast to about 25 degrees (which is standing on the cockpit seats with it on my shoulder) and then pull on the mainsheet and up she goes.
Me too
I have nothing new to add. Just to emphasize again. I do exactly as the manual states. I do it alone, mostly with one arm. Just the first 15 degrees of lifting are a bit harder and takes two hands, and I'm not strong. You will bend the shroud T-bolts if they aren't properly in an upright position as the mast gets close to vertical. Don't sail with bent T-bolts. All 4 of mine were bent when I bought the boat. The mast can break off sideways if you forget to use the "baby stays" (mast raising bridals). Take them off when sailing. As the manual says, angle the gin pole 10 degrees or so towards the stern. Other wise, depending on the stretch in your jib halyard, when the mast is all the way up your mainsheet blocks may already be touching and have no further movement and you still won't be able to attach the forestay. I'm lazy, and often short for time. If I didn't have a boat slip and had to launch and rig every time, I'd hardly get any sailing in. Putting it on the hard, but with the mast still up, wouldn't be so bad, depending on how polite you ramp mates are when the weather has turned bad. Don't underestimate the value of mast-up parking or a slip, especially if you live close enough to the marina to go sailing on a moments notice.
I have nothing new to add. Just to emphasize again. I do exactly as the manual states. I do it alone, mostly with one arm. Just the first 15 degrees of lifting are a bit harder and takes two hands, and I'm not strong. You will bend the shroud T-bolts if they aren't properly in an upright position as the mast gets close to vertical. Don't sail with bent T-bolts. All 4 of mine were bent when I bought the boat. The mast can break off sideways if you forget to use the "baby stays" (mast raising bridals). Take them off when sailing. As the manual says, angle the gin pole 10 degrees or so towards the stern. Other wise, depending on the stretch in your jib halyard, when the mast is all the way up your mainsheet blocks may already be touching and have no further movement and you still won't be able to attach the forestay. I'm lazy, and often short for time. If I didn't have a boat slip and had to launch and rig every time, I'd hardly get any sailing in. Putting it on the hard, but with the mast still up, wouldn't be so bad, depending on how polite you ramp mates are when the weather has turned bad. Don't underestimate the value of mast-up parking or a slip, especially if you live close enough to the marina to go sailing on a moments notice.
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