Stepping Mast Alone
Suggest you check the archives with this site, this has been discussed previously. And you might check out www.catalina22.org/ in their technical section. I've had the luxury of always having a second or third set of hands and find the more the better (as long as they are not all attached to captains), but some folks seem to step the mast alone with a few mechanical aids. We usually use a homemade A-frame up forward and crutch aft to lessen the lifting strain, and Catalina Direct sells a gin pole I think that does something similar up forward. If alone, you've got to be more serious about lateral stability while raising, and must rig a means of holding the forestay to the bow till you get there to make a firm attachment. All of us have to avoid overhead obstructions, especially electrical lines, and strong winds when stepping and unstepping whatever the boat. Dick
