I pulled my H23 out of the lake a few days ago, and while I was able to lower and stow the mast alone, it is not easy. Lowering it is no longer such a big deal, as I fashioned wood supports to attach a sort of baby stay bridle to help support the mast sideways while being lowered. The tougher job is now unpinning the mast from the tabernacle (or whatever that fitting screwed to the deck is called).
The H23 seems to have a rather tall mast to me, and when still pinned and resting in the crutch attached to the transom, more of its weight is aft of the crutch, so it wants to tilt back, lifting the mast base as soon as you pull the pin. With two people, one holds the base down while the other fiddles with pulling the hinge pin. I did it alone by using a line tied across the top of the base to hold it down, but don't really like this solution as it still springs up some when unpinned, and the force pulling up on the base makes it harder to slide the pin out.
Wondering if any other H23 owner has a technique they like...
The H23 seems to have a rather tall mast to me, and when still pinned and resting in the crutch attached to the transom, more of its weight is aft of the crutch, so it wants to tilt back, lifting the mast base as soon as you pull the pin. With two people, one holds the base down while the other fiddles with pulling the hinge pin. I did it alone by using a line tied across the top of the base to hold it down, but don't really like this solution as it still springs up some when unpinned, and the force pulling up on the base makes it harder to slide the pin out.
Wondering if any other H23 owner has a technique they like...