Raise mast/attach shrouds in seconds

[Ranger Paul18578]

I had to replace my standing rigging and I had the rigger install Hyfield levers on the upper/lower shrouds at the same time. Pictures are under Boat Info/Owner Modifications/216/H216 Quick Shroud Setup - Install Hyfield Levers. Of couse, this is applicable to boats other than the H216. I am super pleased with the result. Along with my electric winch modification, I can raise the mast, attach the forestay, then install and tension the shrouds in a very small number of minutes...all done easily and safely.

This was well worth the money. With my winch and levers, I have now taken the hardest and most time consuming part of the boat setup/knockdown and made it simple, fast and easy.

 

[troutsmoustang]

Hi Paul, I am very interested in this. I have already do the electric winch with remote control! About how much money are we talking about for this converision? thanks, david

 

[Alan]

Paul,

The highfield lever is only needed at the bottom of the forestay. The shrouds do not need a highfield lever for mast raising.

 

[soling42]

Been doing this on our H260 for years and it's the cats sass. 12v Harbor freight atv winch w/remote $50, jumpstart batt pack $30, Folding closure for the forestay from CSJohnson.com $40, shorten the forestay the length of the closure $20. Best money you'll spend and very impressive at the ramp. The winch is way over rated and has a built in brake to safely stop at any point. Always use common sense and be safe.
M&K

 

[Drew13440]

Michael, I'm curious - how does the folding closure on the forestay help? The winch is awesome!

 

[soling42]

Drew,
I'll draw the mast upward with the winch until I can pin the open folding closure at the bow. While the winch still has part of the forestay tension I'll fold the closure into the closed position and put a safety pin in it. Caution is required as it's drawing the rig into it's properly tensioned range. Always put tension on the forestay with the winch before releasing/opening the closure to lower the mast. You'll only miss this step once.
Hope it makes life easier.
Mike

 

[Brian M H23]

Is the folding closure more important for roller furling? I have a hank-on jib, and all that I do is bring the forestay into tension with my mainsheet tackle on the jib halyard - it easily pins from there.

 

[Alan]

You can accomplish the same by using the jib halyard lead to the anchor roller. Attach the halyard to the anchor roller and winch the halyard from the cockpit. It will raise the mast into position and pull slack into the headstay to allow for easy pinning of the forestay. Then slowly release the halyard tension.

 

[Ranger Paul18578]

Hey David,

The four Hyfield levers cost me $271.20. There was no rigging cost as my standing rigging was being replaced and the installation was folded into the new rigging cost. Just to short circuit the next question, I needed new rigging because I drove my boat under an oak tree while the mast was raised. Sigh. I am alllergic to stupidity which means I am allergic to myself!

 

[Ranger Paul18578]

Hey Alan,

Alas this is not true for the H216. The jib is a furling jib and the furler is at deck level and the jib goes clear up to the jib tang...leaving no room to for the Hyfield lever unless one wanted to recut the jib itself which is impractical. Admittedly most boats that have Hyfield levers normally have it on the forestay...it just would not work on the H216. At the cost of Hyfield levers, I would have much preferred to purchase one instead of four!

 

[Alan]

Ranger Paul, I understand about the furler being so close to deck level to make the highfield lever impossible to operate. My point was the lever is not needed at all. Using the jib halyard to raise the mast and slacken the forestay for easy pinning makes the lever redundant.

 

[soling42]

I don't know about a 216 but my 260 needs a tremendous amount of tension to create that added slack required to insert a simple forestay pin. The rig tension is set perfectly to spec and even with the winch bearing on it I still need the slack from the open lever. It's a welcome addition.

RP, I hate to mention it but I found two of these in a local nautical trader store for $20. I wasn't sure what I'd do with them at the time but they've been the best money spent in ages.

have a great summer. Nice avatar pic.
Mike and kelli

 

[Alan]

Mike, the reason I know this procedure works is because I used it on my own boat. When I removed the forestay on the rig for replacement (which should be done every ten years) I used the jib halyards to slacken the stay for removal. The halyards held the forward tension in the rig while I replaced the stay and pinned it back again.
Both procedures are perfectly workable ideas, one just costs less.

 

[Ranger Paul18578]

Hey Alan...er...the H216 does not have a jib halyard.

 

[Alan]

Wow, no wonder you had to resort to those levers. How the devil do you get the headsail off the boat or change sails? How do you adjust the luff tension in the sail?

 

[Brian M H23]

I think it has a halyard, but it's integral to the roller furling foil, it doesn't attach to the mast