Questions about lowering mast on 25.5 please help

[mattt6511]

Hello i have a 1984 hunter 25.5 and i need to lower the mast on it does anyone know is the mast step on this a pivoting mast step? i took pictures of it here is the link http://s573.photobucket.com/albums/ss175/mattt6511/Hunter 25 mast step/?start=all

Also i have never lowered a mast i was told the mast on this boat isnt all that heavy probably between 80-110 lbs my plan was to remove the front pin from the mast step, remove the front stay from the deck and actually attatch it to a line that someone on land would hold as it slowly went down, remove both side stays, have someone sit on deck holding the mast and mast base then have two people on the port and starbard side of the mast slowly walk it down, while one person on land with the line attatched to the front stay lets out slack...
Does this sound right does this make sense??? All together it would take 4 people to lower the mast. would this work or would i have to fabricate some type of gin pole?? Thanks for any help!

 

[MrUnix]

Looks like the same mast plate as on the H23, and yes, it's pivoting.. 4 people is overkill but won't hurt anything.. your method should work just fine.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Bill Jones]

Too many people is better than too few. The important aspect is that once it starts down, it's going to try to go to one side or the other. If it starts the momentum will be difficult to stop. The people on the port and starboard need to be sure and keep the mast going straight back.

 

[mattt6511]

Alright awesome so on this size boat with 4 people I should be able to do it by hand without a gin pole? And am I correct just to remove the front pin in the mast step and the front stay and both side stays?? Thanks

 

[jamesstrobel]

It may not be as easy as you believe. We have tried lowering the mast on our H23 for many years using your 4 man method and marina cranes and just sheer brute force. All methods have made me worry about potential failure of equipment and dangerous collapse of the mast. One year the mast slipped off the boat and nearly smashed into a nearby car This year, after 20 years of worry about a catastrophe we designed and used a gin pole. Simple, effective , easy to use with a Lot of control. Hope this helps

 

[John A12737]

I always hooked my jib halyard to my forestay plate, And controlled the masts descent with tension on the halyard. Then had a couple of people walk it down.

 

[hellerjo]

I always hooked my jib halyard to my forestay plate, And controlled the masts descent with tension on the halyard. Then had a couple of people walk it down.

james strobel gave you the safest method using a jin pole. they are very easy to make and it gives you the leverage to bring it down with the least amount of brute strength.

Joe

 

[Fly_H23]

There are a few videos on YouTube of mast lowering how-to tips and also on sailingtexas dot com. I'd also second the suggested gin pole and a not so windy day.

 

[BoatBum]

One issue

When you lower the mast of a 25.5 there is one potential problem that may not show up until too far along with the process. When the mast is nearly down and over the cockpit, the mast will end up resting on (and supported by) the companionway hatch. I put a cushion of lifejacket on the back edge of the companionway hatch to avoid damage.

I have dropped and raised the mast on my 25.5 many times with the help of two others. More is better. It is not an easy job (and can be a little spooky as the mast approaches the cockpit and people need to find ways to support the mast), but a couple of fairly strong helpers and I would have no concerns about doingit again. Using a halyard to the bow area to control the drop is good, but does little when the mast get over around 45% of vertical. You need to have a couple of people man handle the mast for nearly the entire last half of the drop.

You may find the step pins difficult to remove. The secret is not having suporting shrouds, etc. too tight. If the mast can move a bit, a person wiggling the mast will be likely to make the removal of the front pin easy. Make sure thetop of the mast is well supported before you remove the back mast step pin.

 

[isaksp00]

Based on some not-so-pleasant experience with my H23, don't try to lower your mast with just a person pulling on a line (like one attached to the forestay) from the masthead. Use some sort of block and tackle, as suggested on various sites (like the Texas sailing video). I strongly recommend a gin pole of some type. If yours has swept-back spreaders, as does the 23, you won't need to remove the side stays - they will loosen as you lower.

 

[mattt6511]

I do have swept back spreaders so I can leave the sidestays on?? Just loosen the turnbuckles or something?? That would help alot!

 

[mattt6511]

If that's correct then all I need to remove is the front stay loosen sidestay turnbuckles and front mast pin??

 

[isaksp00]

That's all I do.

I use a gin pole arrangement, so I attach the pole to the mast base, attach the jib halyard to the top eye on the end of the pole, attach one end of a block and tackle setup (has a pair of blocks with two sheaves each) to the pole's bottom eye, and attach the other block to an eye on my trailer. I tighten the blocks using a jib winch in the cockpit, until the forestay is loose enough to unpin. I already loosened (but do not remove the) sidestay and backstay turnbuckles; even when quite loose they support the mast. Then I use the "lowering line" on the jib winch to slowly lower the mast, using two helpers to steady it sideways as it lowers into the extended mast crutch.

This year while stepping (only my 2nd) I also built and used "baby stays" attached from mounts above the deck at the toerail, up to a chain around the mast just below where the lower spreaders attach. This was to help prevent sideways sway, which caused damage on the way down last Fall. Seemed to be quite helpful.