singlhandedly raising mast on Sandpiper
Hi, I don't even know if this is recent and still relevant, but here it is. I easely lift my mast alone, on the water or on the trailer. YOu need, a long line (25 feet, 1/4 inch or more) A large block that can easely be attached (some blocks have a quick release (with a sliding pin). With the mast resting on the boat, hopefully sitting on front and rear balcony and cabin top. Mainsail halyard has to be facing up, ready to be attached to line to be discussed next. The block has to be attached to the front balcony (I clip the block to my anchor that is sitting on the balcony) you could attach the block to the headstay holding bracket if you don't have a balcony. It is probably easier if the block is set to something on the balcony, because it is three feet from the deck. YOu run a line from inside and through a jib cleat in the cockpit (temporarily remove the jib sheet first), straigth to the front balcony, through the block up there, and then about eight feet to be tied to the mainsail halyard. The mainsail halyard is free to run from the block up the mast to this line, but is still tied at the other end, so that some tension will build when you walk the mast. Tie together halyard and line, so that when you will pull on the line, the mast will lift. Go back to the cockpit. Lift the mast on your elbow. Slowly back the mast so that you can engage the foot into its bracket. Taking the loose from the line that runs from the cockpit to the front to the maisail halyard, you can start pulling on that line so that the mast will be pulled forward and up. The reason for the line being run through the jibsheet clamcleat becomes obvious. You can pull on the line with your right hand, help the mast up with your left, and clip the line as you need to stop to take some line. Keeping the mast in a straigh line (beware windy days, keep the wind in front of the boat), pull all the way until the mast sit straight, shrouds tense up (you leave them attached throughout the procedure, and clip the line (a lot of tension is required so that you will have some loose to attached the stay.) With the line clipped solid, you can go up front, attach the stay, and then go back, release the line, remove the block, untie the mainsail halyard and all is fine. There is no need for any extension front or back to start this process. The taller you are the easier. The line-block-halyard arrangement has to be solid, in line, and running smoothly. If in doubt, you can stop halfway through the procedure, even go back. Incidentally, the procedure for lowering the mast is the same. First run your line, attach your block, tie a knot with line and halyard, go to cockpit, set tension so that stay can be detached, free line and start lowring mast. Receive with left hand, give some line, lower some more, until mast is down. release from step, walk mast front until well supported. LEave everything there until ready to lift again. If all this sounds difficult, you can write me at andrem_bergeron@hotmail.com
