mast stepping and rigging

[SteveSam]

I am brand new to sailing having recently completed ASA Basic Keel Boat in Panama City, FL. I know that I have much to learn and I hope that I can find some help here. To begin with I have examined some of the mast stepping posts especially by Trinkka. Background includes having just bought a 1975 Oday 25 swing keel, with trailor, and one year old 9.9 hp outboard motor. The boat is in excellent condition with good sails and roller furler genoa. I have a truck big enough to pull the boat and did haul it 300 miles to my home with no problem. My goal is to day sail it as much as possible as I am only an hour away fro Lake Guntersville and two hours from Lake Martin also in Alabama. I would like to eventually take it to the Destin Florida on some trips. I helped with stepping and unstepping the mast and the way that it was done would not be feasable to do with only my wife and me. Spencer with Sail Trailors in Columbus, Ga can build a mast raising (sorry) stepping system. I need advice. The mast was raised from the bow towards the aft of the boat which meant that I was on the ground holding and moving forward with the furler which then had to be passed up and toward the bow and then fastened. It seems tha it would be easier to raise the mast from the stern forward. Trinkka talks about using a Johnson handy lock for the back stay and a press button fast pin for the forstay we only used stainless wire. I really need a paint by numbers prosess as how to do this what is first, second, check turnbuckles attach this when and how to attach the boom vang etc. Is there a process like that out there for "dummies". I do not want to damage the rigging, furler, or get hurt in the process. If you do not do something very often you can forget a step in my case there is not much to forget. Thanks for any help that anyone is willing to provide. Maybe my next question will be more nautical and correct. Also can the sail be left on the furler when unstepping the mast. I was told that the furler system culd easily be bent and damaged. Would leaving the sail on it give it additional rigidity and yes it would add weight but is that realible. My ultimate goal is to have a system like you would use when you preflight an airplane. Thanks again.

 

[Joe11688]

I am brand new to sailing having recently completed ASA Basic Keel Boat in Panama City, FL. I know that I have much to learn and I hope that I can find some help here. To begin with I have examined some of the mast stepping posts especially by Trinkka. Background includes having just bought a 1975 Oday 25 swing keel, with trailor, and one year old 9.9 hp outboard motor. The boat is in excellent condition with good sails and roller furler genoa. I have a truck big enough to pull the boat and did haul it 300 miles to my home with no problem. My goal is to day sail it as much as possible as I am only an hour away fro Lake Guntersville and two hours from Lake Martin also in Alabama. I would like to eventually take it to the Destin Florida on some trips. I helped with stepping and unstepping the mast and the way that it was done would not be feasable to do with only my wife and me. Spencer with Sail Trailors in Columbus, Ga can build a mast raising (sorry) stepping system. I need advice. The mast was raised from the bow towards the aft of the boat which meant that I was on the ground holding and moving forward with the furler which then had to be passed up and toward the bow and then fastened. It seems tha it would be easier to raise the mast from the stern forward. Trinkka talks about using a Johnson handy lock for the back stay and a press button fast pin for the forstay we only used stainless wire. I really need a paint by numbers prosess as how to do this what is first, second, check turnbuckles attach this when and how to attach the boom vang etc. Is there a process like that out there for "dummies". I do not want to damage the rigging, furler, or get hurt in the process. If you do not do something very often you can forget a step in my case there is not much to forget. Thanks for any help that anyone is willing to provide. Maybe my next question will be more nautical and correct. Also can the sail be left on the furler when unstepping the mast. I was told that the furler system culd easily be bent and damaged. Would leaving the sail on it give it additional rigidity and yes it would add weight but is that realible. My ultimate goal is to have a system like you would use when you preflight an airplane. Thanks again.

Hi Steve!
I can honestly say one thing about the 1975 O'Day 25 having sailed one up from Cape Cod to our yacht club on the Taunton River in No. Dighton Ma., it's a fast boat on the water. We have two later model O'Day 25s in the club that don't sail like that 1975. Also, I am pretty certain that the metal winch cable on the table pedestal for your centerboard can be replaced some day with a braid pendant line. You would need to talk to Rudy at D & R Marine about that. Your centerboard is made of fiberglass and it's not all that heavy to warrant a metal cable.
So it sounds like you are planning on trailering this boat. There are a few on this forum who do trailer O'Day 25s. The guys in our club who own O'Day 25s and a 26 each raise the mast on these boats from the bow, but they only do it about once a year as they have moorings. Myself, I'd much prefer raising a mast from the stern. It's easier, I think. Personally I would not raise or lower a mast with the sail on the furler. The furler luff is awkward and heavy enough without adding more weight to it, but this is just my own opinion. I think that there are guys who do this and they are quite OK with it. Whatever floats your boat.
I have a backstay on my boat with an open turnbuckle just like your boat. I added the Handy-Lock to my backstay through the advise of the sailboat rigger who sold it to me, used. What he did was to add the Handy-Lock with a short tail of stay wire above it and a swaged bolt fitting to screw into my open turnbuckle above it.
To get your forestay connected, you can accomplish the same thing by loosening your backstay turnbuckle,-- I think. For your fore stay connection to your bow plate; You may want to use a regular rigging pin with a cotter pin or a cotter ring. Do not use a Fast Pin. I use a press button quick pin on my forestay and it has never come out on me. A fast pin will come out. Good luck with the boat and let us know how you made out.
Joe