raising mast

[willie playmore]

can someone advise me as to the best way to step the mast on an oday23?curtisac@frontiernet.net

 

[gene]

stepping mast

I have a 25 but looked at 23s. I think they're the same set up. No way is better than another, one just suits YOU better. I like the over-stern method cause I use the crane on the trailer. I don't step on water. I use a 6 foot mast crutch on the rudder pintels and a winch on the crane which is bow pulpit height + four inches. no baby stays or gin pole. It takes two people. I am figuring/building a one person system using an electric winch on the deck. gene

 

[Steve]

Agree with Gene

I have a 23 and raise the mast over the stern. Use the mainsheet system attached to the forestay and stemplate. Fabricated a mast crutch out of a 2X6 the slips into my gudgeons on the transom and extends about 2 1/2 feet above the stern rail. Walk the mast back until the holes in the mast tabernacle aline with the deck plate and insert the rear pin. Have the side and back stays attached. One person on the bow with the mainsheet tackle the other walks the mast up. Once I get to the cabin the bow man can tighten up with the mainsheet tackle and provide some leverage. I step up on the coach roof and continue to walk the mast into position with the help of the bow man on the tackle. Finish up by inserting the front pin in the mast tabernacle and attached the forestay. Remove the mainsheet tackle and go sailing. Make sure the "T"-Bolts on the side stay turnbuckles don't kink, they will bend under the pressure of stepping the mast. Just replaced all four of mine as the P.O. had bent all but one.

 

[Tom]

Stepping Mast O'day 23 (or 22 or 25)

I've stepped mine many times in a manner that is similar to Steve and Gene (over stern...half-way pole), but I use my jib sheet for raising the mast. I have a traditional hank and hoist headsail and I clip the halyard to a long dock line secured at the bow cleats. With the mast on the half-way pole and the rear pins in the stepping plate I can hoist the whole thing from the cockpit. At first, the leverage of the halyard to pretty poor, so I walk the mast toward the companionway, and the halyard is fed through its clutch so any progress I make is maintained. Eventually the mechanics or the mast/foredeck/halyard it such that I can simply pull the mast from my shoulder to vertical. Some issues....If you don't have halyard clutches, you probably shouldn't try it alone. I'm a mild mannered, 160#, middle-aged man who can't even claim 5'10". With a clutch, I can do it easily.When on the half-way pole, the mast wants to tip off the stern unless it is pinned at the step. I use a strap, loosely run through the deck hand rails to hold it down before I pin it. It's kinda hard to wriggle the thing into place when the mast is resting on the half-way pole.I've wrecked a side-stay turnbuckle as the mast goes vertical. I stop pulling on the halyard when the mast is 60 ro 70 degrees and make certain the the stays will snap into place correctly before pulling the final bit.Good sailing,Tom