Patents for sailboat mast raising systems and telescoping masts (for nerds)
- Thread starter DrJudyB
- Start date
Hi Judy. I agree. My goal is to have a system that allows us to raise the mast and lower it into travel position without having to move it manually. Thus, our effort would be significantly relieved. This mast, especially with the furler, is heavy.
I have a gin pole that has worked well. I have raised my C22 and my friend’s O’day 26 masts with them. I know, raising a C22 mast with a gin pole is overkill. I did it to show the new owner the rig, and as they were elderly, they felt uncomfortable stepping the mast by hand, which is how I did it. I made an A-frame to unstep the mast on my 272 when I first bought it. We normally used the marina crane to step the 272 mast.
I have an A-frame that I use to step the mast on my Telstar. It works well, but it is a bear to move around. I think the main disadvantage of the gin pole or A-frame is that we have to move the mast back from its travel position to pin it. That adds a lot of effort. It takes us about 40 minutes to an hour to rig the A-frame, the block and tackle, and the baby, side-stays as guides, and raise the mast. Then we have to remove the A-frame, side-stays, A-frame mount, and mast crutch.
The main advantage of the Telstar system is that it places the mast in its travel location when lowered, and it lifts it from the travel position when raising it.
We use the A-frame on the Telstar because we do not need an appointment to use the crane when we want to get the boat ready.
I have looked at videos of many systems: Telstar, tabernacle, gin pole, A-frame, and A-crane. The Telstar seems to have the qualities we like. The A-crane is intriguing too because, like th e Telstar, the mast is free of the deck until it is stepped and pinned; thus, it could be raised from near its center of gravity. The tabernacle is also intriguing except for the fact it leaves the mast head too far aft to travel on the road.
I feel like the strut system of the Telstar could be done easily. The struts could be made removable rather than become part of the standing rigging. Only the mounting points on deck would be permanent. The C and D frames could be removed by using a separate line to begin drawing the mast upward and aft, as those two frames do. Besides a separate line to begin the process, a single line would stand the mast to vertical with the base seated in a shoe and pinned, using the primary winch.
I would not want to daysail the boat either. We would like to trailer it for weeks or months-long vacations in Florida during the Winter, so a system that can travel easily is needed.
Thanks for your clarity and good direction. Your thoughts are helpful.
I have a gin pole that has worked well. I have raised my C22 and my friend’s O’day 26 masts with them. I know, raising a C22 mast with a gin pole is overkill. I did it to show the new owner the rig, and as they were elderly, they felt uncomfortable stepping the mast by hand, which is how I did it. I made an A-frame to unstep the mast on my 272 when I first bought it. We normally used the marina crane to step the 272 mast.
I have an A-frame that I use to step the mast on my Telstar. It works well, but it is a bear to move around. I think the main disadvantage of the gin pole or A-frame is that we have to move the mast back from its travel position to pin it. That adds a lot of effort. It takes us about 40 minutes to an hour to rig the A-frame, the block and tackle, and the baby, side-stays as guides, and raise the mast. Then we have to remove the A-frame, side-stays, A-frame mount, and mast crutch.
The main advantage of the Telstar system is that it places the mast in its travel location when lowered, and it lifts it from the travel position when raising it.
We use the A-frame on the Telstar because we do not need an appointment to use the crane when we want to get the boat ready.
I have looked at videos of many systems: Telstar, tabernacle, gin pole, A-frame, and A-crane. The Telstar seems to have the qualities we like. The A-crane is intriguing too because, like th e Telstar, the mast is free of the deck until it is stepped and pinned; thus, it could be raised from near its center of gravity. The tabernacle is also intriguing except for the fact it leaves the mast head too far aft to travel on the road.
I feel like the strut system of the Telstar could be done easily. The struts could be made removable rather than become part of the standing rigging. Only the mounting points on deck would be permanent. The C and D frames could be removed by using a separate line to begin drawing the mast upward and aft, as those two frames do. Besides a separate line to begin the process, a single line would stand the mast to vertical with the base seated in a shoe and pinned, using the primary winch.
I would not want to daysail the boat either. We would like to trailer it for weeks or months-long vacations in Florida during the Winter, so a system that can travel easily is needed.
Thanks for your clarity and good direction. Your thoughts are helpful.
CONCUR WITH YOU JUDY.
On one other point. When I looked into telescoping, I did keep it quiet and felt not worthy mentioning to the public.
Catalina 250 (first version) and Catalina 22 Sport basically used what Hunter offered. The Catalina 250 went to a different system later FYI
On one other point. When I looked into telescoping, I did keep it quiet and felt not worthy mentioning to the public.
Catalina 250 (first version) and Catalina 22 Sport basically used what Hunter offered. The Catalina 250 went to a different system later FYI