Staying the Mast

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Delena Davis

We are the proud new owners of a 1975 27' O-Day. Brought it home on a trailer and now wondering the best way to stay the mast. We are definately "Newbees"! Any advice or other considerations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
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Rod Johnson,

Confused

I'd stick with the original stay layout that O'Day equiped the boat with. Forestay, Backstay, upper shrouds leading over spreaders, and two sets of lower shrouds. I'm not sure if Rudy has a rigging guide for the O'Day 27, but you could call him at D&R Marine, (508) 644-3001 to check. Basically though, the placement of the stays seems pretty logical. You will need a crane to step and unstep the mast, but I doubt that you will be able to launch the boat off the trailer on a ramp anyway. After the mast is stepped, first attach the forward and aft lower shrouds to their chainplates, then the upper shrouds, then the backstay, and finally the forestay. That is the order listed in the owners manual. An owner of an O'Day 27 sent me a copy of the manual, that is where I got the above advice.
 
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Delena Davis

"Stepping" the Mast?

Thank you for the information, Rod! I was corrected by a friend when asking about "raising" the mast. But, apparently we were both incorrect. I have recently taken 2 asa courses and you would think I could at least have the terminolgy down to ask a simple question! Ha Ha. I was wondering about stepping the mast...Do I have to use a crane? It doesn't seem that heavy and another friend suggested possibly using the boom.?. Also, it seems the trailor has an extension bar to take the trailor further into the water. Thank you for the info. on the rigging guide as well!
 
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Rod Johnson,

Stepping the mast, w/o crane

I suppose it is possible to step the mast with out a crane, but the "stock" design of the boat would make it hard to pivot the mast up using the boom as a "gin-pole". If your boat has been modified, and has a hinged maststep or tabernacle, then with care it should be possible to pivot the mast up or down. To use the boom would mean the mast would need to pivot up from the bow, so the hinge will need to be designed/set-up for this. I based my original answer on the assumption that the boat had the original mast-step design. Even with that original set-up it may still be possible to pivot the mast up/down, but not as easy. If you have a deep (and steep) ramp to launch from, and a long extension on the tongue, it may be possible to ramp launch off your trailer. However, without seeing it, I can't say for sure. You will need a powerfull truck to do this since the boat alone weighs over 5000#, then add in the trailer. The 4' draft of the keel means you will need to get the trailer pretty far out into the water to get the boat off. I admire your spirit, but am just cautioning you from experience that it is never as easy as it looks, but may get easier as you do it often enough. I have observed people trying to launch boats drawing 2' of water being frustrated by needing just 1-2 more inches of depth to get the boat off the trailer, so close and yet so far! I have also read about people ramp launching a Catalina 27 after stepping the mast themselves, wish now I could find that magazine article!
 
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R.W.Landau

Delena, Congradulations on your new boat

Delena, Don't worry about the nautical terms. Just keep explaining what you need and the people on the site will respond. I know that the 272 masts step from the stern. It depends on the tabernacle ( the place where the mast connects to the cabin top) configuration. I have a 25 O'Day that can be stepped from the stern or from the bow. It is easier to raise the mast from the bow. My tabernacle has two pins that the mast can pivot on. The second one helps keep it up. The shrouds should be connected when raising the mast.If you raise from bow to stern the fore stay should also be connected. Then when the mast is up the rear stay should be connected. Visa-versa if you raise it from the stern to the bow. If can, try to take a friend of two from your classes it probably would not hurt. The group that I work with ( About 4 to 6 boat owners that always help each other) we have one on a safety line so the mast does not fall back and hurt someone. Two or three people actually do the mast raising and anyone else helps with the things that get stuck on the way up. With that many shrouds, they sometimes tangle on a cleat or a winch. This mostly happens when there are just two people doing th the whole operation. Hope this helped some. I know others will have their methods also. r.w.landau
 
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web

Have it done the first time

I am all about the adventure of learning everything about your boat - not just how to make it go through the water - but I would advise you to have the boat launched and crane rigged the first time. Its not that you can't do it yourself - you can using the advice in the earlier posts. Its more that you will have so much excitement and on your mind on launching day even without the added stress of rigging the boat that you will have your hands full. I stepped my mast myself the day I first launched my current boat. This at the same time as running around checking through hulls and bilge pumps and that the boat was on her lines and so on - I should have had it done. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
 
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Delena Davis

Thank you, Justin

Thank you so much for the advice, Justin. I will call the marina next to find out what is available. I really appreciate your help! Lena
 
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Delena Davis

Thank you, R.W. Landau

Thank you very much for all the information. It will certainly help. It is all so new and exciting yet, seems so overwhelming, too for someone with little mechanical skills. But, I'm eager to learn and am amazed by such support and help out there! thank you! Lena
 
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Julian Hood

Stepping & Launching

Delena, Congratulations on your fine acquisition. I have a 75 Oday 27 that I launched off a trailer. In Georgia we have a tide that runs between 4 and 7 feet. I simply ran the trailer down the ramp at low tide secured a line to the trailer and disconnected it. I then moved the truck up the ramp and waited for the tide to lift the boat off of the trailer. If you have a tongue extension you want have to go to that extent. I suggest that you find a crane to step the mast. Its a lot safer.
 
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Julian Hood

So your the guy who has the manuel

Rod; If you have a manuel to an Oday 27, please share the wealth. I even contacted Rudy at D&R Marine and he didn't know if any existed. My e-mail address is j11h@planttel.net. I would be interested in getting a copy. Thanks
 
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Rod Johnson,

It's not much

Julian, what I have is really only the text of the manual, however it is certainly better than nothing! I'll send it to you via a direct e-mail as soon as I locate the files. Hopefully some time today.
 
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