raising or lowering the mast

[wes]

Has anyone found an easier way to handle the mast, we have been man handling it with 2 or 3 people, it always seems very awkward, help!!

 

[Charlie - "KESTREL" C-22]

Raise the mast

Wes, I have a c22 but the mast issue should be the same. There are a lot of good ideas out there. What I did as to make a support for the mast that sits atop the stern pulpit and clamps to the rail. This secures the mast nicely on the trailer. Then I made an extension to this support with a fork on top and mounted two pin brackets to it that fit into the rudder gudgeons. I don't have pictures, but you can imagine a 7 ft board sticking up from the rudder position. All you do is walk the mast up and lift up to the fork at the top, slide it aft until you can pin the foot and the walk the mast forward and upright (just like stepping a ladder)then walk to the bow and attach the fore stay. You can almost do it alone, but its easy with 2, 1 to raise the mast and the otther to pin the forestay. Several people have seen my son and I do it and wish they had it.Good LuckCharlie

 

[Tom]

Electric Winch Help

Wes,I have a CDI furling jib on a C22 which makes the mast pretty heavy to manually lift

 

[Campy]

Mast Raising on a C-22

My 13 year old daughter and I (40) have the raising system down to about 15 minutes start to finish. I walk the mast base back to the tabernacle and lock it in. I fashioned a mast crutch out of 2x4's and pintles that mounts on the rudder gudgeons, I use it for mast stowage during transportation, so it's not too high. The forward stay gets attached to the main sheet, snatch block at the stem and other block at the forstay clip.I straddle the mast standing on the coach roof sliding hatch and my daughter hauls away at the main sheet. I guide the mast up and hold it while she locks the sheet, then fastens the forward shrouds. I'd imaging the length of the mast on your c-25 would be a bit more heavy. I'd just be really careful not to have the mast lift up on the tabernacle pivot point when raising the mast. The aluminum will tear and you'll be out of a mast.We then tune it the best we can in the parking lot, and finish on the water.Campy out!