I have 15 years of sailing and set up experience on a Catalina 22, but am going to be putting a 1981 Hunter 27 in a lake slip this spring in Minnesota. I would like any techniques, tips or tricks primarily on stepping the mast you can share. I will have to do it by hand - no crane or other machinery is available. The boat has roller furling and is on a trailer. Any info would be appreciated.
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Need lots of help.
I too had a C-22 and own a Cherubini. Big difference in mast stepping as you have obviously determined. I do not think it is possible to raise it without working from high above the boat. Like a line over a high tree limb or from an overpass. Can you get it close to the peak of the house? I think you need some way to get leverage from above. Maybe a very long pole to place under the spreaders would work but you are lifting a lot of weight. Regardless you will need several folks holding lines from at least four directions to stabilize it as it goes up. Then someone on deck to connect the shrouds and stays. It will be interesting to hear how this finally goes.
I too had a C-22 and own a Cherubini. Big difference in mast stepping as you have obviously determined. I do not think it is possible to raise it without working from high above the boat. Like a line over a high tree limb or from an overpass. Can you get it close to the peak of the house? I think you need some way to get leverage from above. Maybe a very long pole to place under the spreaders would work but you are lifting a lot of weight. Regardless you will need several folks holding lines from at least four directions to stabilize it as it goes up. Then someone on deck to connect the shrouds and stays. It will be interesting to hear how this finally goes.
I wouldn't do it
I have a tall rig and would never attempt it with "muscle power" alone. May I suggest you have someone meet you at the ramp with a crane or cherry picker lift? I don't know if a professional rigger is an option. If not, then try a sign company for a crane. They typically use their lift equipment once a week to post new signs and might be agreeable to using their gear on an "off" day at a discount. A small construction crane is also an option. You should easily fit within their two hour minimum.
I have a tall rig and would never attempt it with "muscle power" alone. May I suggest you have someone meet you at the ramp with a crane or cherry picker lift? I don't know if a professional rigger is an option. If not, then try a sign company for a crane. They typically use their lift equipment once a week to post new signs and might be agreeable to using their gear on an "off" day at a discount. A small construction crane is also an option. You should easily fit within their two hour minimum.
High Risk operation
I am having my mast taken off for a compression post repair and then restepped. The risk of dropping the mast was just too high for me. Your local marina will do this for you. $100 in FL. Good luck.
I am having my mast taken off for a compression post repair and then restepped. The risk of dropping the mast was just too high for me. Your local marina will do this for you. $100 in FL. Good luck.
A little too much work
This mast at about 32 feet is about the limit of what I would EVER attempt by hand. The best thing is to be able to get on top of something to have some leverage, like a nearby building. I once took my H-25 mast down with the help nf two student volunteers and the being-dismantled porch roof right in front of the boat. It was very hard, awkward, and somewhat damaging to the mast. The BIG hassle you have is the roller furling, adding about 60 lbs to the sideways/downward pull of the masthead as you try to 'Iwo Jima' this thing up to vertical. I would strongly suggest calling Taylor or U-Haul for a cherry picker (maybe 125.00) and the guy will deliver it, go out to McD, and come back to find you done with it. 'High risk operation'.... yeah. I don't think I'd help with this one even for beer and steak. With my bad back I wouldn't live to get to the beer-and-steak part. JC
This mast at about 32 feet is about the limit of what I would EVER attempt by hand. The best thing is to be able to get on top of something to have some leverage, like a nearby building. I once took my H-25 mast down with the help nf two student volunteers and the being-dismantled porch roof right in front of the boat. It was very hard, awkward, and somewhat damaging to the mast. The BIG hassle you have is the roller furling, adding about 60 lbs to the sideways/downward pull of the masthead as you try to 'Iwo Jima' this thing up to vertical. I would strongly suggest calling Taylor or U-Haul for a cherry picker (maybe 125.00) and the guy will deliver it, go out to McD, and come back to find you done with it. 'High risk operation'.... yeah. I don't think I'd help with this one even for beer and steak. With my bad back I wouldn't live to get to the beer-and-steak part. JC
Not worth the risk
It's too dangerous. I had the yard take down my mast last winter (only $100). I measured my mast and it came to 36.5 feet. As far as weight, even with my slipped disk, in a pinch I can lift 100 lbs and I couldn't even budge the mast. It took three big guys to move it once horizontal. Remember, you have to lift to vertical and place it the step perfectly straight or risk breaking the step. Also if you still have all the electrical connections inside the mast, whose going to risk losing their fingers or worse making the connections as the mast goes up? By the way, once you factor in the cost of all the equipment you need to do it yourself, it's probably cheaper for the yard to do it. My 2 cents, Manny
It's too dangerous. I had the yard take down my mast last winter (only $100). I measured my mast and it came to 36.5 feet. As far as weight, even with my slipped disk, in a pinch I can lift 100 lbs and I couldn't even budge the mast. It took three big guys to move it once horizontal. Remember, you have to lift to vertical and place it the step perfectly straight or risk breaking the step. Also if you still have all the electrical connections inside the mast, whose going to risk losing their fingers or worse making the connections as the mast goes up? By the way, once you factor in the cost of all the equipment you need to do it yourself, it's probably cheaper for the yard to do it. My 2 cents, Manny
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