I believe it was in the spring of 2012 a contributor to this site described a fairly simple homemade aid to stabilize mast when raising and lowering. Most important it prevented lateral movement. I am over 65 and its becoming very tricky to control the raising and lowering while standing in the cockpit even with a helper in front of boat pulling or holding the line attached 2/3 of way up the mast. I've been searching the site to recover this post but can't find. I recall that there were a few excellent photos of the rig. I would appreciate any suggested mechanical aids to make this easier. Its the tall (24' ??) mast and it gets heavier every year. Thanks, Bill
Raising and lowering mast on ODay 19
- Thread starter weh5748
- Start date
hello Bill
my previous boat was a Mac25 with a heavy 28ft mast... to keep the mast from lateral movement the mac system used baby stays... they attached to the mast like the shrouds, about 4 or 5 feet up from the bottom... they attach into the deck even with the tabernacle for the mast... as you raise the mast they are taunt, not tight like the shrouds when they are raised... on the mac system you do not undo them once the mast is raised, but I have been told on other boats you remove them... I have read where others have added these baby stays using rope or hard rubber bungies... also here is a picture if the mac25 mast raising system for you to see... with this system n place, raising and lowering your mast can be done all by yourself...
goodluck
sincerely
Jess
my previous boat was a Mac25 with a heavy 28ft mast... to keep the mast from lateral movement the mac system used baby stays... they attached to the mast like the shrouds, about 4 or 5 feet up from the bottom... they attach into the deck even with the tabernacle for the mast... as you raise the mast they are taunt, not tight like the shrouds when they are raised... on the mac system you do not undo them once the mast is raised, but I have been told on other boats you remove them... I have read where others have added these baby stays using rope or hard rubber bungies... also here is a picture if the mac25 mast raising system for you to see... with this system n place, raising and lowering your mast can be done all by yourself...
goodluck
sincerely
Jess
Attachments
The problem with baby stays for lateral stabilization, is that the attachment point of the stay to the boat must be precisely in line with the pivot point of the mast. Otherwise, they will prematurely tighten or loosen. There are many systems that folks have rigged to accomplish this. The Precision 18 is reasonably close in design to a 19, and I know there are some discussions of this for the P18 if you google around.
One thing you could do is to get a sliding gooseneck fitting from Dwyer, and rig some rigid supports. Some have used pipe with the ends smashed down into flanges. They could potentially be rigged to attach to the chainplates, but even though the chainplates are abaft the pivot of the mast, because the rigid pipe attaches to a sliding gooseneck fitting, it is allowed to slide up and down the mast track as you are raising the mast.
What I did with mine, was to take an 8' 2x4, and a 1/2" square U-bolt (trailer mount bolt.) I cut this in half to make 2 L shaped pintles in the 2x4. The top I used plywood to make supports for a bow roller. Now, I put the 2x4 into the rudder gudgeons, and lift the mast onto the roller. I can then easily roll the mast aft, to get the pivot bolt into the mast step. Then, the mast is already hosted roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up by the tall support. Provided the stays don't get hooked on hardware on the cabin top, the lift isn't all that bad. However, rigging a gin pole and using the main sheet tackle or vang tackle could make the lift even easier. Not tried that yet, I'm still muscling it up.
The mast drop onto that support was easier than expected, because I stood in front of the mast facing aft, and straddled the mast as I lowered. It went down really much easier than I planned, and it wasn't that hard to guide it onto my V profile bow roller. You could make such a support using a keel roller that is significantly wider than my 4" bow roller, actually…
As far a gin poles go, I've seen them with winches on the pole that winch the mast from the gin pole, and I've seen them where a halyard attaches to the gin pole, and stays only one length. Then the tackle attaches to the gin pole and pulls down to the stem head fitting. The gin pole can remain 90º to the mast, and still have room for the tackle, because the mast step is up on the cabin, and at fully up, the gin pole would have a gap between tip of the pole and the deck level.
Brian
One thing you could do is to get a sliding gooseneck fitting from Dwyer, and rig some rigid supports. Some have used pipe with the ends smashed down into flanges. They could potentially be rigged to attach to the chainplates, but even though the chainplates are abaft the pivot of the mast, because the rigid pipe attaches to a sliding gooseneck fitting, it is allowed to slide up and down the mast track as you are raising the mast.
What I did with mine, was to take an 8' 2x4, and a 1/2" square U-bolt (trailer mount bolt.) I cut this in half to make 2 L shaped pintles in the 2x4. The top I used plywood to make supports for a bow roller. Now, I put the 2x4 into the rudder gudgeons, and lift the mast onto the roller. I can then easily roll the mast aft, to get the pivot bolt into the mast step. Then, the mast is already hosted roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up by the tall support. Provided the stays don't get hooked on hardware on the cabin top, the lift isn't all that bad. However, rigging a gin pole and using the main sheet tackle or vang tackle could make the lift even easier. Not tried that yet, I'm still muscling it up.
The mast drop onto that support was easier than expected, because I stood in front of the mast facing aft, and straddled the mast as I lowered. It went down really much easier than I planned, and it wasn't that hard to guide it onto my V profile bow roller. You could make such a support using a keel roller that is significantly wider than my 4" bow roller, actually…
As far a gin poles go, I've seen them with winches on the pole that winch the mast from the gin pole, and I've seen them where a halyard attaches to the gin pole, and stays only one length. Then the tackle attaches to the gin pole and pulls down to the stem head fitting. The gin pole can remain 90º to the mast, and still have room for the tackle, because the mast step is up on the cabin, and at fully up, the gin pole would have a gap between tip of the pole and the deck level.
Brian
What a friend of mind does on his 22' is with the mast in place and setting on a crutch in the stern he stands over the mast facing aft with the mast between his legs and backs up pulling the mast with him. Works well for him and he does it without help. Aft stay and shrouds are in place.
I attached a picture of a crutch I built for my 22. It allows the mast to sit approximately 9 feet above my transom. I then attach a boom vang to the mainsail halyard and bow chain plate. I place my shoulder on the mast as I reel in the halyard. My shoulder prevents lateral movement.
It works great for me.
It works great for me.
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That's great to hear. That's how I plan to raise the mast this spring, good to hear it works well for your buddy.
Brian
Brian
Thank you all for thoughts and detailed instructions. The idea of a much higher mast crutch makes a lot of sense and I will try. I'm having trouble picturing how one stands over mast facing aft with mast between legs and uses shoulder for the lateral stabilization. Probably my 65 year old brain numbed by sub zero temps in upstate NY. Pictures and diagrams are very helpful so anyone else who has a visual of a rig that works would be welcomed to chime in. Thanks again, Bill.
The mast crutch supports the mast relatively high. It allows me to stand on the cabin stop behind the mast base. While in a squating position I place my shoulder on the mast. As I stand up Im pulling on the boom vang that has one end secured to the bow cleats and the other tied onto the mainsheet halyard.
Basically I use my shoulder rather than baby stays.
Basically I use my shoulder rather than baby stays.