Mast Stepping

[Joseph Bode]

I just bought a 1977 oday 25 after sailing an oday 23 for many years.Is there an easier way of raising the mast ? I know of a unit where one uses the mainsheet and boom as leverage to raise the mast.I talked to a few marinas and no one has any information to show how this is hooked up or where I can buy the kit.Any information would be helpfull.

 

[Justin - O'day Owner's Web]

A process borrowed from the Catalina 25

Joseph,I cannot for the life of me remember more than one mast step set up on the O'day 25, so I think this will work for you, but make sure you're not the one I've just never seen.Set the mast on the bow pulpit and attach the foot to the tabernackle. Slide the gooseneck onto the mast so the boom is sticking straight up. Rig two light lines from the boom to the upper shroud attachment point. Attach the main halyard to the end of the boom and tie off the mast end. Rig block and tackle from boom end to stern of boat, and raise mast with massive mechanical advantage. Have someone ready to pin the shrouds and stays, and you're ready to go.See http://www.best.com/~c25c250/restricted/bsmast.html for a longer explanation and a picture. The rig on the O'day is different from the boat on the site, but similar enough to help you out.Justin - O'day Owner's Web

 

[Melanie Flahive]

At least some 25's had steps that are different...

Justin et al.At least some 25's had a mast step design that will make canting the mast from forward to a vertical position difficult if not impossible with the bolt in place. My 1977 has a ridge of metal that prevents the mast from aligning with the step if it is resting on the pulpit.Melanie

 

[Gary Nichols]

Stepping the Mast

Ahoy JosephI just purchased my 1979 Oday 25 and stepped the mast, per instructions from the previous owner. So here are the tricks that worked with mine.First there is a small triangular plate "T-P" mounted along the shroud. To better describe this, the shroud leaves the chainplate, goes to one corner of the "T-P", which is only about 6" off the deck, then leave from the opposite corner, upto a turnbuckle (only inches away) and then to the top of the mast. This setup is on both the port and starboard shrouds. The remaining open corner, which is pointing aft, is used to connect a line from the shroud to the top of the boom, which is used like a gin pole. This forms the triangle which keeps the boom centered. The toping lift is connected to the back of the boom and the mainsheet block is connected in place. Now the whole unit is pulled into place using the mainsheet. It does look a lot like the Catalina system, but with a build-in connection.I know that this is a little complicated, but I hope that my explination helped. I plan on photographing this system later and placing it on my website, but this is a little ways off.So, if you have any questions, drop me a line and I will see what I can do.Good luck!GarySailNick@aol.com

 

[Justin - O'day Owner's Web]

Does the owner's manual show that part?

Gary,Thanks for info! Question though - does the manual show the part? I checked out a O'day 25 at the yard ealier and it didn't have it. Could be a different year, could be a new rig, who knows. . . While we're at it, what does your mast step look like? The one at the yard had hinged tabernackle thing of about the same gauge as the one on my daysailer, others have had a heavier stamped thing. It'd be good to have list of the varriations that are out there.Justin - O'day Owner's Web