The subject of raising the mast wasa discussed lots in 2002, and again in 2004, but I wonder if there is a way to raise the mast on a 23 O'Day singlehandedly? It sounds difficult to do, but I wonder if it could be done from the stern (while in the cockpit) In the following way: NOTE: I HAVE NOT YET TRIED THIS PROCEDURE (but wooden it be nice if it could be used in a pinch?) 1 Attach the mast (over the bow) using the pivot pin positioned in the foremost hole of the taberbacle, so that the mast is extended over the bow and supported on the bow pulpit. Secure the mast to the pulpit rail with a turn of short line. 2. Attach the shroud and spreader stays at each side at their attachment points. 3. Attach the forestay (or the roller furler rigging)at bow. Ensure that all shouds and stays are only just slack enough to allow the mast to be pivoted to the upright point without being stressed. 4. Attach the mainboom to the mast in its track, and then affix the topping lift halyard to the outboard end of the boom in its normal attchment, drawing the topping lift halliard to its belaying cleat on the mast. Then adjust and securely belay the topping lift line so that the boom can make no more than a right angle with the mast (when the boom is lifted upright and then pulled towards the stern). IMPORTANT: Make very sure that the boom will be secure at that right angle, when it is placed under tension in the next steps. Also make sure that the boom cannot move up or down the mast in its slide. Now remove the turn of line you used to secure the foremast to the bow pulpit rail.(It may help to keep the mast from falling off if you place a few turns of line around the pulpit rail on each side of the boom, so as to act as cushions on each side of the mast.) 5. Bend and secure with frapping turns, a 25-foot, 1/4 or 3/8-inch line to the backstay cable, at a point about six feet from the free end of the backstay, then lead this line through a single block that is attached to the center of a short bridle, which bridle is in turn secured and frapped to both of the two pulpit stanchions, at each side of the stern and placed as close to the deck as possible. Lead this line forward to either one or the other of the foresheet winches, and take three turns around the winch drum with this line, leaving the free end in the cockpit. 6. Get into the cockpit and then tail the line from the winch around your waist as you stand in the center of the cockpit. Now, lift the end of the main boom (with your hands) and align it to the vertical, so that it is EXACTLY perpendicular to the center line of the mast. When this position is achieved, begin to exert pressure on the boom, pulling it straight aft (and keeping it aligned on the fore and aft axis of the boat), towards the stern, so that the boom acts as a lever to cause the mast to rotate on the tabernacle hinge, and to rise towards the vertical. As this is being done, rotate your body, winding the line tailed from the winch around your middle, so as to draw in on the line from the winch (that is attached to the backstay) and so draw in the backstay, towards its anchor point. 7. Continue to exert leverage pressure on the boom and to wind the line from the winch around yourself, until the mast has reached the vertical. Keeping careful tension on that backstay securing line, release the boom from your grasp. 8. Now grasp the line from the backstay, holding it securely, and then step out of the coils that were wound around your body. Securely belay that line to a cleat. 9. Now attach the backstay to its anchor point. 10. Re-tighten all of the stay turnbuckles until the standing rigging is properly tuned. Does anyone think that this would work?