Raising the Mast, short handed

[Fine As Frogs Hair]

I once owned a Venture - now called McGreggor 25, which had a "Mast Raising Bridle" for which I paid a bundle when I purchased it through the Venture dealer in Springfield, MO. It turned out to be a great boat, as cheap as it was! When I traded the boat in for a Balboa 26, I took the idea of the "Mast raising bridle" and addapted it to the Balboa. The Balboa 26 had a 29ft mast, rather thick cross section, I imagine it would be similar to that of a 25 O'Day. With this bridle set up, I could raise or lower the mast single handed! Let me explain how!I put a turning block about 18 - 20 inches either side of the mast, but slightly forward of the mast, say 4 inches. Then I used the cleat that I had used for short handed sailing that is located on the trunk just next to the cockpit. I took an old halyard that had frayed a bit, but was otherwise good, and attached a shackle at midpoint. I took one end of the line and ran it through one turning block and led it back to the cleat on that side of the boat. I ran the other side of the line to the other turning block and led that back to the cleat on the other side of the boat. With the mast resting on the bow pulpit, and any other support you may want to add in front, and with the hinge pin in the hinge plate and the mast base plate so that the mast will pivot on the pin, insert the boom into mast slide or groove. Take the topping lift, or back stay boom support, which ever you have, and snap the support or topping lift into the normal opening in the end of the boom you would use for this purpose. If you let the boom go, it will swing to one side or the other. I took the line that I had prepared before, and attched it to the MAIN SHEET TRAVELER TANG ON THE BOOM. Then, while holding the boom (carefull that you never lay the boom down completely while it is attached to the mast, otherwise you could brake the gooseneck) I made fast one of the lines to it's cleat. I did the same thing on the other side. Adjust the two lines to make sure that the boom is more or less perpendicular to the mast, this really depends on the length of the topping lift or the lenght of the boom support, and parallel to the keel. Now cleat the two lines well! Now, I attached the Main traveler block to the end of the back stay. The other end of the main sheet should be attached to an eye on the stern of the boat. This eye should be located behind or even with the back stay attachment eye. I have used the back stay eye before, but there are too many things to disconnect and connect using this eye for a single handed sailor, so I put another eye in the back, but on the other side of the tiller. Now start pulling on the main sheet. With the three (3) or four (4) to one (1) advantage from the main sheet blocks, low and behold the mast will start comming up. If you have a problem with the shrouds, you can cam cleat the main sheet and run up to clear any problems or jams. Then you can contiue raising the mast again. When you get the mast almost all the way up - say 99.5%, you can just grab the back stay, disconnect it from the main sheet, and pin it in place. Then you can put the second pin in the mast hinge plate. When you want to lower the mast, just reverse the process.This has worked for me for many years. I dry-sailed in Kansas with the Venture for 5 years, and 3 years with the Balboa. I now have an O'Day 22 whose mast is down, parked behind my house on a canal in Hollywood, FL. I power out about 5 miles to just this side of the Intercoastal Waterway, pull over, raise the mast in less then 5 minutes, then go sailing. On the way, back, I reverse the process and motor back home.If you would like, if you send me your e-mail address, I can send you pictures of my set-up. I will be happy to take pictures of it in the process. Best of luck to you and your father.Paul

 

[Ira Watkins]

Pictures Of Raising the Mast set up

I would like pictures of this Raising the Mast setup,My your e-mail address is idwatkin@alltel.net.Thanks,Ira

 

[King]

Mast raising pix

Could you send your set-up pix to bizdoc@gbronline.com? I'd like to see how I might use your system on my boat.

 

[Jay Rosenfeld]

mast raising pics

I would also like to see how you do this single handed as the mast stepping process is wearing out my friends. Thanks, JAy

 

[Jay Rosenfeld]

mast raising

forgot my email address: jrosenfeld@adelphia.net, thanks

 

[Gary S]

Mast Raising

If you don't mind please send to me also. My email is garysayers@prodigy.net. ThanksGary

 

[Fine As Frogs Hair]

Pictures of raising the mast!

I was unable to take the pictures today because of constant lightning in South Florida. Tomorrow is supposed to be better. I will take the pictures and send them out.Thanks for the interest. I hope it will help you all!Paul

 

[Fine As Frogs Hair]

The pictures were sent today!

Hey,The pictures were sent today. Have fun, good luck, & I hope I was able to help.Paul

 

[Dave Lewis]

Mast Raising Pics

Please email pics. davelewisjr@alltel.net Thanks.

 

[david schoonmaker]

please, send pictures

Yes, if you don't mind, please send out another set of pictures of your mast system. We have an Oday20 and gladly appreciate any other methods to raise the mast.schoonmaker@yahoo.comRegards

 

[James]

Please send pics

I'd like a set of pics also jaforster@yahoo.comThanksJames

 

[deturk10]

Mast raising pics...please help

Paul:I have a Gloucester 23 which was a nightmare raising the mast the one and only time I did it. Could you please send pics of your system. It would be greatly appreciated. email atdestined2sail@yahoo.com Thanks, Steve

 

[Terry Schmitt]

short handed

Please send me a set of pictures also. Send to Schmittt@mcleodusa.netI just bent my mast base and am now looking for a new one because of this problem.

 

[conway deitrick]

mast-raising made easy

Hi Paul-I have an O'Day 22 and have always had a terrible time with the mast raising. Your post me new-found confidence in the trailer-sailor designs! Would you PLEASE e-mail me your pictures? Thank you from the bottom of my shoal draft keel!Best regards,Conway Deitrickconwaydeitrick@aol.com

 

[picklefreek]

Me too!!

Please send pics if you have a moment (chris@fernstravel.com). I know my hardest is not having a hinged mast plate. Just trying to get the mast on the foot takes 2 to 3 people. When the mast comes down this fall, Rudy said to send him the foot, and he can rig something up for me, so that alone should be a big help come next summer. Thanks

 

[stevec22206]

Mast raising system

Pictures would be great. email to scantino@sbcglobal.net

 

[Joe O'Brien]

mast raising system pictures

Please send me pictures of your system, I have no idea how to get the mast up on my Mariner without like 5-6 people. My email is commandojoe18@yahoo.com. Thanks, Joe O'Brien

 

[Gerard]

Pix of raising the mast

I am most interested and would be very grateful if you could send me some pictures of your mast raising technique. Please send to hardcorevdub71@yahoo.com Thanks