Steping the Mast
- Thread starter kostas
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Why bother?
Are there no cranes in Boston? No riggers? The mast on a 30 foot boat is not something you just have three buddies hold up while you get the rigging on. Doing it right or having it done right is not very expensive. Why even consider not using a crane?
Are there no cranes in Boston? No riggers? The mast on a 30 foot boat is not something you just have three buddies hold up while you get the rigging on. Doing it right or having it done right is not very expensive. Why even consider not using a crane?
Long wait
I have to wait 10-15 for my yard to do it. And Memorial day weekend is only a week away
I have to wait 10-15 for my yard to do it. And Memorial day weekend is only a week away
Use a buddie boat
Kostas, Ishould be in a pub at the moment...never been to Boston, lotta revolutionary history there, and JFK too! I have stepped masts many times using a buddie-boat either in a slip directly forward or aft of you, you must have someone out on the dock to stop foot traffic, so best early morn, 0600 with all in place. use buddies main hlyard with two extra 'tag' lines and connect to your jib halyard up jammed in the sheeve, meaning, you take up slack untill your halyard is tightened into the block atop your mast, with bud's halyard attached by carrabiner to your halyard, your halyard is cleated on you mast. YOur mast-head shrouds are attached your backstay(s) are attached. a 'prussik' or timber-hitch is attached to the foot of your mast (to keep it from slipping across the deck, and in, or close to your tabenacle step. Then if you don't know what to do then, take her to a yard, or return to "STEP" one. Lotta times it is done this way, but I have no responsibliity whatever, if your think it through, it works..."What could possibly go wrong"...;-) that is what you need to think about, work it out, put it down on paper, think 'what if... IT DOES WORK! And you do not have to climb a mast. Now I'm off to the pub.... BTW good wishes to Tony and crew...
Kostas, Ishould be in a pub at the moment...never been to Boston, lotta revolutionary history there, and JFK too! I have stepped masts many times using a buddie-boat either in a slip directly forward or aft of you, you must have someone out on the dock to stop foot traffic, so best early morn, 0600 with all in place. use buddies main hlyard with two extra 'tag' lines and connect to your jib halyard up jammed in the sheeve, meaning, you take up slack untill your halyard is tightened into the block atop your mast, with bud's halyard attached by carrabiner to your halyard, your halyard is cleated on you mast. YOur mast-head shrouds are attached your backstay(s) are attached. a 'prussik' or timber-hitch is attached to the foot of your mast (to keep it from slipping across the deck, and in, or close to your tabenacle step. Then if you don't know what to do then, take her to a yard, or return to "STEP" one. Lotta times it is done this way, but I have no responsibliity whatever, if your think it through, it works..."What could possibly go wrong"...;-) that is what you need to think about, work it out, put it down on paper, think 'what if... IT DOES WORK! And you do not have to climb a mast. Now I'm off to the pub.... BTW good wishes to Tony and crew...
Fair enough 
If your yard will allow it, find a crane service in the yellow pages. Most crane guys have stepped a mast or two. Figure about a 2 hour crane bill (about $200 here in Vancouver). You should be able to get a crane on 24 hours notice.
If your yard will allow it, find a crane service in the yellow pages. Most crane guys have stepped a mast or two. Figure about a 2 hour crane bill (about $200 here in Vancouver). You should be able to get a crane on 24 hours notice.
Raising Mast
We always used 2 buddy boats. One on each side. Attach spinnaker halyards to loop below spreaders and winch mast up keeping it centered over your boat.
We always used 2 buddy boats. One on each side. Attach spinnaker halyards to loop below spreaders and winch mast up keeping it centered over your boat.
When I need light lifting
I hire a sign company truck. They have a lot of reach and about a 5000 pound capacity. They are usually local and as long as you can get close to some hard ground they can do the job, engines, masts, whatever.
I hire a sign company truck. They have a lot of reach and about a 5000 pound capacity. They are usually local and as long as you can get close to some hard ground they can do the job, engines, masts, whatever.
boom lift
Around here you can rent a boom lift for a couple hundred a day, have a few friends go in on it with you and get them all stepped at one shot. for a single use, I'd give that a shot. I've stood 30ft light poles with a boomlift, it was quick and easy, masts being lighter should be much easier. also, there are many sites on the net describing ways of setting up masts 'alone' most use a gin pole, but the way I'm working on is to build an A frame for easy stepping, hopefully something that 'can' be left on the boat at all times I'm planning a trip shortly, and need to be able to step and unstep the mast a few times, and being the impatient cheap skate I am, want to eliminate any scheduling or payment hassles. I want to be able to drop it when I want to, not when Zeke feels like coming back from lunch! ken.
Around here you can rent a boom lift for a couple hundred a day, have a few friends go in on it with you and get them all stepped at one shot. for a single use, I'd give that a shot. I've stood 30ft light poles with a boomlift, it was quick and easy, masts being lighter should be much easier. also, there are many sites on the net describing ways of setting up masts 'alone' most use a gin pole, but the way I'm working on is to build an A frame for easy stepping, hopefully something that 'can' be left on the boat at all times I'm planning a trip shortly, and need to be able to step and unstep the mast a few times, and being the impatient cheap skate I am, want to eliminate any scheduling or payment hassles. I want to be able to drop it when I want to, not when Zeke feels like coming back from lunch! ken.
very much interested
Boat is a 28 footer, mast is about 35 foot too,maybe longer never realy measured it except to get the luff measure, and once out of curiousity, but never wrote it down. been experimenting with different ways but would love to see a proven system! Thanks Ross, Ken.
Boat is a 28 footer, mast is about 35 foot too,maybe longer never realy measured it except to get the luff measure, and once out of curiousity, but never wrote it down. been experimenting with different ways but would love to see a proven system! Thanks Ross, Ken.
Ken , I made a hinged "A" frame with a pair
sheaves at the top. The "A" frame is stabilized with four galvanized 3/16 wire rope stays with turn buckles attached to hard points that I installed on deck. The feet rest against the toe rail. In use I set the "A" frame up about three feet forward of the mast and tighten the stays. I attach a single block to the stem head fitting just aft of the fore stay. A line is then reeved through this block and lead to the jib halyard and hauled to the mast head. ( I use a 1/2 inch anchor rode and shackle the lines together.) The tail of this line is lead aft to a two speed sheet winch. I take four turns on the winch and cleat the line. Next I let the forestay go and my lower forward shrouds. (At this point the line to the winch is holding the mast up). Nancy eases the line on the winch and I push the mast over towards the stern, Nancy continues to ease the line to the mast head and I guide the line into the sheaves at the top of the "A" frame. When the mast is neatly down against the Boom Gallows I have to hold the foot of the mast down to keep it from tipping up. ( the boom gallows is about six feet from the balance point). When the tension is off the lifting line I get control of the foot and Nancy starts to grind the winch slowly and we walk the mast forward until it is stable. Reversing this proceedure puts it back up. A third person makes it much easier and less of a white knuckle opportunity.
sheaves at the top. The "A" frame is stabilized with four galvanized 3/16 wire rope stays with turn buckles attached to hard points that I installed on deck. The feet rest against the toe rail. In use I set the "A" frame up about three feet forward of the mast and tighten the stays. I attach a single block to the stem head fitting just aft of the fore stay. A line is then reeved through this block and lead to the jib halyard and hauled to the mast head. ( I use a 1/2 inch anchor rode and shackle the lines together.) The tail of this line is lead aft to a two speed sheet winch. I take four turns on the winch and cleat the line. Next I let the forestay go and my lower forward shrouds. (At this point the line to the winch is holding the mast up). Nancy eases the line on the winch and I push the mast over towards the stern, Nancy continues to ease the line to the mast head and I guide the line into the sheaves at the top of the "A" frame. When the mast is neatly down against the Boom Gallows I have to hold the foot of the mast down to keep it from tipping up. ( the boom gallows is about six feet from the balance point). When the tension is off the lifting line I get control of the foot and Nancy starts to grind the winch slowly and we walk the mast forward until it is stable. Reversing this proceedure puts it back up. A third person makes it much easier and less of a white knuckle opportunity.
Thanks!
Got it saved and will experiment later on, what are the arms of the a-frame built of? ken.
Got it saved and will experiment later on, what are the arms of the a-frame built of? ken.
I made mine from doubled up
2x4s but it is heavy. I hoist it onto the deck with a halyard and stand it up that way. The cheeks on the top with the sheaves are oak and stand about an inch above the sides of the sheaves.
2x4s but it is heavy. I hoist it onto the deck with a halyard and stand it up that way. The cheeks on the top with the sheaves are oak and stand about an inch above the sides of the sheaves.
Excellent ideas
Have them bth saved, looks like it may be what I need to assemble. Freind of mine has som 1.5 inch aluminum or stainless behind his garage, I'll see if I can get him to let me have it. Not sure how long it is, but seem to remember it being about 18 to 20 feet. Thanks again Ken.
Have them bth saved, looks like it may be what I need to assemble. Freind of mine has som 1.5 inch aluminum or stainless behind his garage, I'll see if I can get him to let me have it. Not sure how long it is, but seem to remember it being about 18 to 20 feet. Thanks again Ken.
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