Hi guys. So ive sailed plenty of times but yesterday was the first time i tried raising a mast(on a decent sized boat). My father and i did it but man was it hard to do. We are both shorter guys not weak but we had trouble getting the forestay down enough to connect it to the boat. So im thinking that maybe it would be good to invest in a mast raising system. However i have no idea where i can buy a gin pole or A Frame. Ive been searching the web but all i really find is the mastup which just mounts to the stern. I wouldnt really want that because it still means ill have to lift the sucker up and struggle to connect the forstay. The line for the forestay appeara to be pretty new. So im assuming that it will stretch out a bit after i break her in. However does anyone have any tips, tricks, or places to buy a a mast stepping system? Worse case does anyone have any directions on how to make a cheap simple system? And i have a '77 v21 btw. Ik that the mast isnt crazy heavy i think we were just lacking weight trying to pulldown on the forestay.
Mast Raising System
- Thread starter RichieR
- Start date
I like justsomeguy's setup for the gin pole. There is no ready-made system for the V21 that I know of. I bult mine from galvanized piping that has to bolt to the mast, and I use baby stays as well as a 4:1 block that doubles as a boom vang under sail. I am only of average height as is my son, but I've got more 'aftermarket parts' in me than the boat, so I'm not so nimble anymore. We both need to climb up onto the cabin hatch at the same time to complete the step process while the wife is in safety mode with the ability to use the cam cleat on the block if we get into trouble. We used to be able to do it with just her and I...
Thanks for the input. I gave in and made myself a gin pole with a winch, pully and 2x4. Ill give it a try this weekend. If it works well ill post a picture so someone else can use it if needed. Only set me back about $40 so not bad.
If you have not tried it yet, make sure you have a way to stabilize the mast from side to side. It will have a tendency to swing and if it goes too far, will bend the tabernacle.
For now im planning on using the second person to stablize the mast as i winch it up. Otherwise id if doing it alone id tie some stablizing lines to the sides. Do you think have the second person stablizing and guiding the mast will work?
It will work, but it's not difficult to make baby-stays. The ones on my 22 were 1/4" rope and worked fine.