Mast Stepping

[Joe Spadaro]

I am seeking advice on raising thr mast on my 222.Are there commercial systems available?Appreciate any and all comments.ThanksJoe

 

[David Garrett]

I have an O'Day 23 and raise and lower my mast myself. I raise it from the bow. After attaching the fore stay and two of the shrouds, I raise the mast and hold it in place while someone attaches the back stay. I lowered it last night while on the trailer without any help by raising the trailer tongue to shift the mast weight back. I disconnected the back stay, stepped up to the mast while holding the back stay in my hand and then slowly lowered the mast.

 

[Dan]

Step from the back

Joe,I step mine from the back. I put a step ladder in the cockpit, put the mast on it, and slide it back until it lines up with the tabernackle. I generally pull up on it at the base as someone else walks it up to me. They hold it in place as I set the forestay. Dan

 

[Mardon DeMichele]

Keep it in collumn!

Check out this site for gin pole ideas. The trouble people get into raising masts is keeping it in collumn with the centerline of the boat. If it starts to twist, you can lose it.I lay my spinnaker pole (you could use an 8' 1x4 or 2x4) athwartships at the base of the mast and lash the ends to the lifeline stantions or the trailer. Then attach a halyard to each end. Using a gin pole with the trailer winch or led back to one of the boat winches, raise it slowly, knowing you'll have to stop midstream to untangle a shroud or backstay. Best to tape turnbuckles together to keep them from flopping, they'll crimp otherwise. I raise mine singlehanded this way.The easiest method is to have two people handle the halyards to keep the mast in line and help with the weight while the third lifts from the cockpit, but when you're short handed....