I was wondering, of all you O'Day 25 owners, do you step your mast while the boat is on the trailer, or in the water? I've been doing it in the water with the boat tied up tightly to the dock, but I see some do it on the trailer.
Mast stepping - wet or dry?
- Thread starter Steve Braverman
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Mast stepping
Steve, We have two O'Day 25s and a 26 in our club. Two of the owners have their own trailers and prefer stepping the mast on the trailer. I also prefer to step my mast with my boat on the trailer, but I've done it on the water many times. I think that it really all depends on the surrounding area where you plan on doing it on the water. We have "No Wake" signs out near the entrance of our mooring field and some boaters observe them and slow down, but others don't. This is the main reason why I would prefer stepping my mast on land. A few of the guys who have to have their boats hauled to the club ramp by a boat hauler, don't have any choice but to raise their mast on the water. I don't mind raising or lowering my mast on the water, but I'm always leery about some fool going by and creating a large wake that could have some devastating consequences to my mast and rigging. For me, location is the key. Joe
Steve, We have two O'Day 25s and a 26 in our club. Two of the owners have their own trailers and prefer stepping the mast on the trailer. I also prefer to step my mast with my boat on the trailer, but I've done it on the water many times. I think that it really all depends on the surrounding area where you plan on doing it on the water. We have "No Wake" signs out near the entrance of our mooring field and some boaters observe them and slow down, but others don't. This is the main reason why I would prefer stepping my mast on land. A few of the guys who have to have their boats hauled to the club ramp by a boat hauler, don't have any choice but to raise their mast on the water. I don't mind raising or lowering my mast on the water, but I'm always leery about some fool going by and creating a large wake that could have some devastating consequences to my mast and rigging. For me, location is the key. Joe
I do mine in the water, much safer. I heard
about a trailer sailor that went on a trip and fell of the boat while rigging it. That left his wife with a big problem. Next thursday is launch day. r.w.landau
about a trailer sailor that went on a trip and fell of the boat while rigging it. That left his wife with a big problem. Next thursday is launch day. r.w.landau
Both
When I first got my 25, I raised it on the trailer. It was pretty awkward with that much weight hanging over the bow. A couple years ago when launching, I was asked not to raise on the trailer as they had had someone drop a mast on someone else's boat in the yard. Fair enough. Since then, I've only done it on the water. Figured out a couple years ago that it would be much easier to raise on a dock where I've got a finger dock directly in front of the bow. I have someone walk the head of the mast out on the finger and eliminate the need to fight the weight over the bow. Once I've got the pin installed in the step, it's a piece of cake from there. Good luck, Greg
When I first got my 25, I raised it on the trailer. It was pretty awkward with that much weight hanging over the bow. A couple years ago when launching, I was asked not to raise on the trailer as they had had someone drop a mast on someone else's boat in the yard. Fair enough. Since then, I've only done it on the water. Figured out a couple years ago that it would be much easier to raise on a dock where I've got a finger dock directly in front of the bow. I have someone walk the head of the mast out on the finger and eliminate the need to fight the weight over the bow. Once I've got the pin installed in the step, it's a piece of cake from there. Good luck, Greg
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