Stepping mast on the water

rpell1@msn.com · Nov 13, 2009

Didn't like it either....

Up until last year, I had a 22 Chrysler continually moored at a slip. I too had the wonderful experience of dropping and raising the (Very Heavy) mast fairly regularly and found it much too me for one person. Based on an old Chrysler weg-site, I fabricated a "bridle" made of S/S lifeline cable and some snap hooks. Essentially, all it did was hold the mast from moving side to side while I used the boom, (inserted in a provided hole in the forward side of the mast base), as a lever. I used a simple block attached to the end of the boom to raise and/or lower the mast. It took awhile to set up, but it did make life a little easier. The is the web-site. cumbersohttp://chryslersailing.lizards.net/

Take a look for the bridle details. It may help.

Good Luck

Garrett7m-FL said:
Is it unreasonable to think that I would want to step the mast on a C22 (or similar sized boat) in the water? I live on a canal in Jupiter FL that leads to a larger river and then the ICW where I would like to sail but there is a fixed bridge between me and the river. I would have to launch from my backyard or leave the boat in the water at my dock, power/paddle to the cove beyond the bridge, step the mast and then sail for however long, return, and repeat all backward. I have no experience with this and just want to see if anyone thinks that this is a good idea or something that would make me want to pull my hair out. I could trailer the boat to several launches nearby, but live on the water and would really like the convenience of just leaving from my dock. I am thinking that the stepping and dropping the mast over and over might be too much, but if someone out there thinks it's not too crazy, I just might continue down that road.
Thoughts and comments appreciated.

Stu Jackson · Nov 13, 2009

The upper harbor in Santa Cruz, CA

has a bridge that boats of at least 30 feet and larger negotiate all the time. They do it in Holland (The Netherlands) every day. Look up "tabernacle" or "mast tabernacle". People do it all the time.

Rick Webb · Nov 13, 2009

I Do It on my 23.5

In fact I prefer to to it on the water vs on the trailer as there is not alot of foot room at the bow and the water is much closer and softer than the trailer tounge and the asphalt if I were to take a header off the boat.

Benny · Nov 13, 2009

It is done frequently with boats that are properly equiped for it. The clearance of the bridge is important as it is much easier just to lower the mast some than to drop it down all the way. Here in Florida you are going to need a bimini top and if getting the mast down will require that you take the top off its going to become a pain real soon. Get or design a mast raising system, one that will allow a person to singlehanded raise or lower a mast with minimum physical effort. I would incorporate a quick release lever for the headstay to do away with any tuning adjustments and facilitate connecting and disconecting. A portable mast crutch tailored to the clearance of the bridge to allow the mast to rest while you are going under the bridge or even help the mast from striking the bimini top will make things easier. Mast raising systems range from elaborate levers, bars and winches to rudementary block and tackle units; but the important thing is that you should be able to get up the bridge, slow down and without getting the boom or main sail off you should be able to lower the mast, go across, raise the mast all in one fluid motion not to take more than 5 minutes. If you have to anchor in a cove to raise the mast, adjust the tension in the srouds, connect the boom and install the bimini top is not worth it, just take it to a ramp on the river.

dserrell · Nov 13, 2009

Check out this video! This would probably work while the sailboat is in the water! Good luck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKjUi2h0mX8

David

caguy · Nov 13, 2009

There are a number of mast raising systems you can use. Here is good video of a system that definitely works on the water. I didn't see any baby stays on it and would be hesitant to use it without them, I could be wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r33VCObNroY

BTW thanks dserrell for video it turned up a really funny video on why one should have a transom ladder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjW0cZHUvSQ&NR=1

CharlieCobra · Nov 14, 2009

I tried it once before I built my mast raising system, it SUCKED! Afterwards, no problem.

watercolors II · Nov 14, 2009

Might be a little large

Raising or lowering the mast is actually easier on the water than on a trailer. Only 2 problems arise in this is the lost of equipment and tools overboard, and the carrying on board all of the extra equipment needed to accomplish this.

22 foot boats may be a little large for a couple hours out on the water in your situation, a 19 foot boat or smaller is more what you should be considering.

I’ve help raise and lower the mast on everyone of these pictured boats 19 to 28 feet many times.

Joe Blizzard · Nov 14, 2009

Here's all you gotta do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epz6BBZm__0

emergpa1 · Nov 14, 2009

Joe Blizzard said:
Here's all you gotta do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epz6BBZm__0

ha, that is too dang funny

oldiesrocker2001 · Nov 15, 2009

Hey RPell46, What was the url of the chrysler website? Just picked up a 15 footer and not sure about the jib furling hookup and/or forestay.
However, not to completely hijack this thread, my V21 is too labor intensive to try lowering the mast on the water. In addition, my mast crutch hooks into the rudder pintles and requires a lot of hardware to lose overboard....

Mario G · Nov 15, 2009

http://chryslersailing.lizards.net/

the fourm
http://chryslersailors.com/discussion/index.php?sid=886da45d4423314882ba194c6a564932

Hawk4661 · Nov 15, 2009

Re: The upper harbor in Santa Cruz, CA

Hi Rick...I too raise and lower mast each time out.Iit takes me about an hour each way but by being trailerable its worth the "effort of love".

oldiesrocker2001 · Nov 16, 2009

Thanks for the Web URL, Mario. At least I know which chrysler I have now (Hey, think I can fit a Hemi engine in that cabin?) !

cephius (Dave) · Nov 16, 2009

For a while the city was doing building construction adjacent to my marina. They ran temporary power on poles over the launch ramp. I had no choice but to raise the mast in my slip.

The biggest issue is having clearance off you stern when you push the mast aft to pin it at the step.

If you are comfortable with the process, it really doesn't matter if you are on the trailer or on the water.

Edwin farland · Nov 16, 2009

I have a 23' Coronado in Naples FL with a bridge between my dock and the Gulf. I made a bracket which attaches to the mast base and secures the end of a galvanized pipe that extends about 6' toward the bow - this is to provide some leverage when the mast is down.
a permanently installed line goes from the end of this strut to the top of the mast.A block and tackle arrangement goes from the strut end to the bow fitting, and is led back to the cockpit. at the stern is a mast support for when the mast is down as far as it has to go to clear the bridge. I lower the mast after leaving the dock and raise it after passing under the bridge. I have an autohelm so I can do this alone while the boat is under way. My set-up is simple because my shrouds to not go forward, so I only have to disconnect the forestay. To give you an idea of how easy this is, I do it myself and I'm 72 years old. Go for it!

Joe11688 · Nov 16, 2009

Garrett7m-FL said:
Is it unreasonable to think that I would want to step the mast on a C22 (or similar sized boat) in the water? I live on a canal in Jupiter FL that leads to a larger river and then the ICW where I would like to sail but there is a fixed bridge between me and the river. I would have to launch from my backyard or leave the boat in the water at my dock, power/paddle to the cove beyond the bridge, step the mast and then sail for however long, return, and repeat all backward. I have no experience with this and just want to see if anyone thinks that this is a good idea or something that would make me want to pull my hair out. I could trailer the boat to several launches nearby, but live on the water and would really like the convenience of just leaving from my dock. I am thinking that the stepping and dropping the mast over and over might be too much, but if someone out there thinks it's not too crazy, I just might continue down that road.
Thoughts and comments appreciated.

I trailered my O'Day 222 for about eight years back in the 80s and 90s about every week in the summer. I was younger back then and I wanted to sail my boat in different waters. I once overheard a cop sitting in his cruiser at the ramp say to another guy, "he goes through all that work just to go sailing" and he was shaking his head while he was talking to the guy. I really didn't give a darn what he thought because I had a regular routine of mast raising/lowering that became so easy after a while that it became second nature to me, but there are a lot of variables in mast raising, and one of them is age. Being a "Geezer", I couldn't go back to doing that again. The other variable is keeping the mast raising/lowering as simple as possible and by that I mean, having no furler to contend with and using no Gin Poles. If you have a furler, you need a Gin Pole plus baby stays, which takes up a lot of time to set up and break down. Outside of that, all you need is a mast crutch with a roller on it attached to your stern pulpit, and a single sheave for the bow plate for a 60' 3/8" line. My line had an eye splice in which I could hook my jib halyard to and raise the halyard to the top and cleat it off at the mast. This line only served to hold the mast in place after I bulled it up while standing on the closed companionway hatch. When the mast was up, I'd take a turn around the mast --above the goose neck-- and tie the line off to the Starboard bow cleat. Then I could take my time and connect the fore stay. A Johnson Handy-Lock on my back stay enabled me to loosen or tighten everything up without having to touch any turnbuckles on my boat. The Handy-Lock did it all. So if you're young, and you can keep it simple, it might work for you. Once you develop a routine and stick with it, it become "Ole' Hat."
Joe

biorapper · Nov 19, 2009

I have done around ten times, for a bridge reason too, and had no problems. Aside from the potential of losing something that gets dropped into the water...and a bit of rocking while raising its pretty much the same as on land.

Stepping mast on the water

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Edwin farland

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