Rigid Furler/Reefer mast raising

[gkeiser]

Hi everyone. I've read many of the O'Day Mast raising threads here, but haven't seen any that discuss systems that have to account for a rigid reefer, like the CDI Reefer #4 which is on my O'Day 25. I understand that these Reefers are more prone to damage when the mast is raised, so I want to be careful in designing my mast raising system. Does anyone have experience with raising the mast that has a rigid Reefer and which side do you raise it from, bow or stern?

The gin Pole seems the more robust, but connecting to Reefer to the end of the gin Pole could bend the Reefer. But if I raise it from the bow, using the boom (official O'Day mast raising system), it could be difficult to control the Reefer along the deck.

Any thoughts on this would be helpful. Thank you!
Geoff

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Good morning . I've raised and lowered the mast on our 25 Oday with the CDI FF4 furler for many years . I can safely raise and lower the mast even with boat in the water . As it was made ,the mast is "supposed to be lowered towards the bow. . I tried that once . Nope ! There is so
much weight forward that as soon as you unpin the step the mast wants to take off and go off the front of the boat !
What works for us is a gin pole that clamps to the base of the mast and ends about 4" from the stem fitting . The stem fitting is the forward most part of the bow where the forestay connects . Our gin pole has 3 eyebolts on the end . The two on the side have lines that go back to triangular plates on the side stays . These keep the mast in column and wont let the mast go sideways .(A very bad thing ) The forward eyebolt has a double block attached to it . I run 3/8' line through the double blocks ,through another double blocks attached to the stem fitting and finally back to the winch on the mast . Using a winch handle I can safely lower or raise the mast easily by myself. Should a stay get caught ,I simply cleat off the line and walk over and untangle it .
A final word of caution . When the mast is lowered towards the rear of the boat it must be support when it is about 7' from the cockpit . If it is not ,the bracket for the boom vang may well gouge the deck... I find the CDI furler doesn't complicate things all that much . The rolled up genoa always wants to flop over to one side of the other . I've resigned myself to dropping the sail before lowering or raising the mast.
I'll try to be back with pictures

 

[gkeiser]

Thank you so much for your detailed response! I have been concerned about raising and lowering the mast over the bow for those same reasons, so it's great to have some firsthand experience to go by. Is it my understanding that you do not attach the end of the gin pole to the top of the mast at all? I've seen many pictures/videos/threads where people attach the forestay/furler to the end of the gin pole to provide the necessary leverage. If that's the case, I'd imagine your gin pole is very rigid and the clamp is really robust to provide that leverage. The furler/reefer I have is the rigid one with the foils, not the Flexible Furler (FF) which I think you are referencing, or maybe I'm mistaken. So, if mine flops to one side of the mast as it is raised/lowered that could bend the foils, which is my concern. If I attach my rigid furler/forestay to the end of the gin pole, I've read that the slack in the forestay could also bend the foils on the furler. See the attach document and images of my reefer. Thank you for your help.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Yes ,you are correct in that I was solely referancing the flexible furler .The forestay is connected to the end of the gin pole . The first ginpole I made was 2' square tube steel with 1/8" wall . Solid and hefty . After a number of years of bench pressing the gin pole , I made a replacement from 1 1/4" aluminum conduit . This one has a rubber coated racheting strap that clamps onto the mast base .
I understand your extreme reluctance to introduce the possibility of damaging your foil . With the set up I use .I really don't see that happening.It might be possible ,

 

[Timm R Oday25]

I've been thinking about your furler all weekend . If you had jib halyard ,you could use instead of the forestay/furler ,the gin pole would still work . If you were still concerned about the aluminum being bent .Here is an idea . find the smallest diameter schedule 40 pvc pipe that will fit over the aluminum and slide it over . It comes in 10' lengths . So cut it in workable lengths and slide a few couplers every 6 feet or so .
You might want to glue a coupler on to one end of each section . I bet you wouldn't even be into it for $30.00 .What is bolted or claamped to the starboard teak handhold ?