I need to haul out my 1985 Hunter 23 for bottom paint and I am new to sailing and have no idea how to step the mast safely. Any info to help will be greatly appreciated.
Mast stepping
- Thread starter Scooterbar
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You do not need to take the mast down to paint the bottom!
As far a r/r the mast, do you have the gin pole?
http://dcwi.com/~nybarra/mast.html
As far a r/r the mast, do you have the gin pole?
http://dcwi.com/~nybarra/mast.html
Hey thanks for the info. I am trailering it home to do the work. No I do not have a gin pole, not sure what one is, is it for the spinnaker?
The H23 is a trailer boat. It is designed to be easy to raise and lower the mast.
If you follow the link in Steve's post you will see a pole attached at the base of the mast to act as a lever. That is the gin pole. It is specific to small trailer boats that need to raise and lower their mast each time they go sailing. A quick Google search on H23 mast raising will find specific instructions.
While the gin pole makes things much easier, the mast on the H23 can be raised or lowered without it.
The main steps are as follows (safety tips skipped):
If you follow the link in Steve's post you will see a pole attached at the base of the mast to act as a lever. That is the gin pole. It is specific to small trailer boats that need to raise and lower their mast each time they go sailing. A quick Google search on H23 mast raising will find specific instructions.
While the gin pole makes things much easier, the mast on the H23 can be raised or lowered without it.
The main steps are as follows (safety tips skipped):
1. Remove both sails and the boom.
2. Connect a halyard to a block and tackle anchored on the bow. The gin pole would go here. The main sheet is usually used as the block and tackle.
3. Connect the cables that keep the mast centered. (most likely missing with the gin pole.)
4. Disconnect the forestay and lower the mast aft by letting out on the block and tackle.
5. Pull the pin at the mast step and walk the mast forward to center it on the boat.
6. Secure all the rigging. Every owner has their own tricks and tips for this part. I use the halyards to tie all the cables to the mast.
2. Connect a halyard to a block and tackle anchored on the bow. The gin pole would go here. The main sheet is usually used as the block and tackle.
3. Connect the cables that keep the mast centered. (most likely missing with the gin pole.)
4. Disconnect the forestay and lower the mast aft by letting out on the block and tackle.
5. Pull the pin at the mast step and walk the mast forward to center it on the boat.
6. Secure all the rigging. Every owner has their own tricks and tips for this part. I use the halyards to tie all the cables to the mast.
In a pinch, the mast can be lowered by two people.. the bigger the better, without any special equipment or rigging 
Have one person standing behind the mast. The other disconnects the forward pin on the mast step and then release the forestay. Both people can then slowly walk the mast straight back to an almost horizontal position. While one person supports the mast, the other removes the second pin in the mast step. The mast can now be walked forward and secured.
My son and I did it when we purchased the boat.. the mast was up and it only had standing rigging, so using the halyard or other running rigging to assist was not an option. It took all of about 3 minutes, if that.
Cheers,
Brad
Have one person standing behind the mast. The other disconnects the forward pin on the mast step and then release the forestay. Both people can then slowly walk the mast straight back to an almost horizontal position. While one person supports the mast, the other removes the second pin in the mast step. The mast can now be walked forward and secured.
My son and I did it when we purchased the boat.. the mast was up and it only had standing rigging, so using the halyard or other running rigging to assist was not an option. It took all of about 3 minutes, if that.
Cheers,
Brad
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