mast stepping on 23'

[joedel@juno.com]

previous forum articles seem to indicate lowering the mast forward as opposed to aft . the mast is fitted with a wire attacheed at the top and a "bridle" looking ring at the mast base ? couldthis be for stepping and unstepping the mast ?

 

[Dave]

Mast stepping my way

I think the bail your talking about is for the boom vang. I've always stepped my mast going from aft to forward. I made a mast crutch from a 2x4 with a 'U' cut in one end and a set of pintels to hold it in place on the gudgeons. With this set up I could raise and lower the mast by myself in about 45 min tops. As the center of balance moved out to the aft, I put a dock line across the mast so it would be caught when the mast base lifted. I had a long line attached to the forstay and run back to the cockpit. When the mast was in the full upright positon, take up on the forestay to hold it in place and CAREFULLY move up to the bow and connect the turnbuckle to the stemhead.Then finish pinning the mast to the tabernacle and adjust the forestay turnbuckle. Hope this helps you some.

 

[JACK]

MAST STEPPING

I HAVE JUST AQUIRED AN ODAY 23 AND HAVE MADE THE SAME MAST CRUTCH YOU HAVE DESCRIBED BUT FOR BETTER STABILITY WHEN TRAILING. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THIS WOULD HELP IN STEPPING THE MAST. ACCORDING TO THE ODAY MANUAL, THE MAST IS MOVED FORWARD AND STEPPED BY WALKING IT UP FROM THE BOW. AS YOU KNOW, THE MAST IS VERY HEAVY SO I SEE YOU WOULD HAVE BETTER LEVERAGE FROM THE COCKPIT AREA. MY QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE YOUR EXACT STEPS WHEN WALKING THE MAST UP FROM THE COCKPIT? I WAS THINKING ABOUT ADDING A ROLLER IN THE "U" OF THE CRUTCH TO MAKE IT EASIER TO WALK THE MAST. WHAT DO YOU THINK?THANKS JACK