Mast Stepping

shnool · Apr 3, 2014

Posting pictures, you need a host site to hold your pictures (flicker, photobucket, etc)...
and post a LINK to the picture within the IMG tag (clicking Img). Basically if you can put your web address into your address bar of your browser, and get RIGHT to the picture, then it'll plant here.

Mast raising.... AHHHH must be spring. Here is what I do... and before everyone tells me it won't work, and isn't safe.... I raise my 30 foot mast myself with this.
There are basically 2 types of mast raising... A-frame, and Gin pole... I use an A-frame. The A-frame generally doesn't require baby-stays... I go 1 step further, and arrange so that I can raise the mast with 1 hand, and stand NEXT to the mast and can "steer" as it goes up.

The TRICK to ANY mast raising system, is to get the mast up a bit, where you can rest it well behind the center of balance. For the Capri 22, the Mast Upper does this well (you can fashion a Mast Upper of your own, but I still strongly recommend the device, as it's also telescoping, so that you can use it for transport for the mast as well).

Mast Upper in DOWN position.

Mast Upper in UP position:

Here's my Capri 25 with my own version of a Mast support for the aft end... but you'll get a better idea how the A-frame works:

Note I FIX the Apex of the A-frame to the bow Cleats, the A-frame is WELL FORWARD of the mast in the vertical position, and I use the mainsheet tackle run to the spinnaker car... YOU CAN, and actually it makes it easier, if you create a LOOP around the mast above the spreaders, that you can detach when the mast goes up... so it should reach well down the mast (10 feet?) so you can untie it when the mast goes up. That works in LIEU of a spinnaker car.
Oh and you'll see in the above picture, my run the forward line over top of the A-frame, DON'T DO THAT, run it under the center of the Apex to the ring, it better centers the load.

A Better shot of the rig:

Once the Mast is UP, doing this is nice in that it HOLDS the mast in place and even allows you to pull it a bit forward, while you put the pin in, with a slack forestay...:

This works great to drop the mast as well... same deal, standing NEXT to the mast, with mainsheet in the right hand, and lowering the mast you steer it down into the mast support with your left. Works great. Every year you need to inspect the 2x4s... they are LESS strong the way I used them, but the load is nearly 90% straight down. I hold these 2x4s together with JUST 5/16" bolts... with wing nuts... so I can pull one nut, and fold it all up. The apex has a threaded ring to connect all the lines too, and mainsheet.

You must tie off the bottom of the A-frame too... to stanchions... to keep it from kicking out.

I've now used this rig for 3 seasons.. I've rebuilt the thing with new 2x4s last year (standard 8 footers) I had a natural split develop around one of the bolts (it existed to start, it wasn't from stress). I need to make carabiner shorty lines to connect to the stanchions to make this faster to setup... but I have had SUCH good luck with this... it takes about 15-20 minutes to setup (if you take your time)... but the mast goes up with NO FUSS, and if something gets all tangled, you can lower it back down easy. Since I rarely have help as I am usually VERY early into the water (most of the club goes in after me)... I put in DURING the week, and I can usually launch my boat, tie out new dock lines, raise the mast, and bend on sails and stuff in 2 hours... If pressed I bet I could do it all faster... but I usually spend an hour with rig tune.

SpiderPig · Apr 3, 2014

I never have used a gin pole to raise the mast. Even when I raise and lower the mast alone, it can be done with out a gin pole. Put a turning block on the jib tack and run the line from a halyard (jib) back to the cabin top winch. Once you put the mast up, then tighen the line and secure it. You can then attach the forestay. These rigs are very light. I've even taken down the rig on the water to retrieve a halyard before. Pretty simple really.

Curt · Apr 3, 2014

Hey X,

Welcome to the board and to the wonderful world of Capri sailing. A long time member, AvaitorJames posted a video of his "A" frame method a while back and after asking a couple of questions I pirated the whole concept.. It is simple to build, simple to set up and amazingly simple to raise and lower the mast all by my self. The year before I built a gin pole set up and it was functional but not nearly as stable and easy to use as the "A frame.

Shnool used 2x4's, in copying Aviatorjames set up I used 2 sections of chain link fence top rail stock. I added a couple of pivoting ladder feet to avoid abuse to the deck and a couple of 2:1 pulleys to the rig. Not exactly sure how to go about finding the original post as it may have been lost while the site was down. Hopefully he will repost it at some point.

Cheers,
Curt

dave_ren · Apr 3, 2014

Great question that I spent months researching last winter after I bought my new-to-me Capri 22. There were a number of great threads on the old site before it went down. :cry: I managed to copy a bunch of them and put a few together showing a couple of different A-Frame arrangements.

I ended up building a non-pivoting A-Frame following the approach shown in the first attachment. All parts came from Home Depot and cost about $40.

I added a few notes in red where I modified what was in the original post. Like Curt, I used the chain link fencing top rail because it was longer and quite a bit stiffer than the electrical conduit others had used for similar sized boats. It's not noticeably heavier, either. The top rails also have a tapered end, kind of like a socket. I ended up cutting them in half and fitting them back together using and bolts with wing nuts through the tapered ends to make them easier to transport in my SUV (four 5-ft sticks rather than two 10-ft sticks).

For the attachment point, I looped an extra piece of rope (ok, old line) around the mast even with the top of the A-frame and secured it with the main halyard. I didn't like the idea of using the spinnaker pole ring as my lifting point, because if it failed or the car popped off the track, there goes your mast and whatever happens to be beneath it!

I used the cheap aluminim carabiners from Home Depot to secure the A-Frame legs to my stanchions. Probably my smartest move, because I bent them when dropping the A-Frame after the mast was up (not being careful). Much rather bend the $0.99 carabiner than a stanchion base... (P.S. Buy extras)
I also used my mainsheet as the tackle to raise the mast. Worked well, but one caution... When you get the mast up, don't rely the cam cleat to hold the mast up while you attach the forestay. TIE OFF THE SHEET TAIL to a cleat at the bow. Trust me... :shock:

Finally, search for a recent post from Aviator James. He posted a link to his mast-raising video which was extremely helpful.

shnool · Apr 4, 2014

By the way I agree with Patrick that the standard rig Capri 22 is VERY easy to raise. I can be done by 1 without any stuff... HOWEVER, I usually raise in the water (rocking), due to the way our boat ramp is there are overhanging trees right to the water, so it just makes sense to raise the mast on the water.

Also, mine is probably the cheapest solution, but the guys with the fencing rails certainly have the heavier/quality A-frames (using the ladder articulating feet is genius)... I'll submit that there is another solution (gin pole) that works real well, and a friend of mine has implemented it for his Oday 26... it works stellar, but of course baby-stays are necessary.
Here's the unit he used for inspiration... Great part is, it's kind of a universal system, so his gin pole is being used by several members of our club.
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-d ... tem-2.html

Even better the gentleman that posted those picts is a regular over at the http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/ forum. He's super thorough with his boat builds, and the Cata 250 has a pretty heavy mast.

dave_ren · Apr 4, 2014

One element that I think we all forgot to mention is the need for a mast crutch off the transom to give you a head start. I can't tell from your photos if you have one or not. I'm guessing you probably do. Shnool's pics show how high his crutch raises the mast before lift-off. Mine extends about 9 feet. Here's a link with an illustration: http://catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/product/3184/mastup-mast-stepper-with-12-pintles.cfm

Chris Capri 22 · Apr 4, 2014

I second the motion for the mast crutch. I have one for mine and it works really well. All in favor?...

Curt · Apr 4, 2014

A mast crutch helps from a physics standpoint. However with a couple of 2:1 pulleys in the mix it is not really necessary. The "A" frame set up with proper rigging will provide more than enough mechanical advantage to get the mast past horizontal and up. That said a crutch is a simple enough thing to build or buy.

My Capri came from Shnool and came with a fairly heavy version of a crutch. I do believe it was from Catalina Direct. Truth be after using it once I gave up on it. It hangs loosely in the rudder supports and is free to pivot side to side. When I tried to push the mast back to mount the base it was difficult at best to move with any confidence. Just me, but I replaced it with a home made version that is much more stable on the transom.

Cheers,
Curt

shnool · Apr 7, 2014

The catalinadirect mast crutch, that hangs on the gudgeons works nicely and as Curt says rotates... The intent was that when the mast was down, it'd be secured to the mainsheet traveler, keeping the mast from sliding side to side. It was also intended to be extendable while in use.

But still, tons of good tips here. I suppose it's pick one and roll with it!

Mattw79 · Apr 20, 2014

In case anyone's interested, the weight if a standard rig mast including the shrouds, spreaders, electrical, & halyards weighs in at 60lbs.

HERSH · Apr 20, 2014

Far better and cheaper system than any of the previous methods.
A couple of friends, and up the mast goes. Works well for taking down the mast also.

Cost is approximately 4 cups of coffee and a few donuts.
And, more then likely I reciprocate with their mast or something else.

One of the benefits of belong to a yacht club.

Hersh

shnool · Apr 21, 2014

Hersh, the extra hands to lift the mast is certainly faster, but if I had waited for that last year, I'd have been waiting a while... This is what the club looked like when I put in last year. Also I am a pretty cantankerous boat owner, I like to do crazy things like put in early, and pull out late, and sometimes pull the boat in the wee hours of the morning, to travel distances with the boat.

aviatorjames · Apr 21, 2014

My homemade version of a mast crutch...

Contraption

jepomer · Apr 26, 2014

aviatorjames said:
My homemade version of a mast crutch...

Contraption

James,

What did you use for your a-frame poles?
Where did you get them?

Also, where did you get the end pieces for the apex?
Your solution has a finished look to it.

John

Morgan donor · May 4, 2014

You need some sailing friends. One aft, holds the mast and starts the lift. You on the cabin top to bolt the mast to the step and continue to raise it after the hand off. Your girl can help from ground with a line on the jib halyard. Your friend hops up & holds it while you go forward to pin the forestay.
Do it on the trailer. water adds an unneeded challenge.
Dave

Mast Stepping

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