Stepping mast

RichBone · Nov 20, 2011

Is that Lake Columbia in Irish Hills?

Rich

Joe11688 · Nov 21, 2011

Arthurg said:
My wife and I have been prode owners of a 1984 Oday 22 for one summer and did all our sailing on an inland lake were we live. Next summer we would like to trailer to the Grand Traverse Bay for a week's sail.

My question: We need an eaiser way to step mast other than the way we did it this year, "grunt it up". I likely could figure out how to install some temporary leverage to help step mast, but someone or someones of you have proven designs and I would sure like to hear from you. Pictures would be nice.

Thanks,
Art Greenman
aggreenm@comcast.net

P.S. A second question; what are some ways to get some cockpit shade. Our boat doesn't have any stern rails. Pictures would be nice.

Art,
What you need to do is construct a Gin Pole and also a mast holding device in the stern. A full stern rail would really help on your boat not only for the mast crutch but the tarp for shade. Check out my Owner's Photo Album for pics.
The Gin Pole can be made of wood or a combination of wood and 1" stainless steel pipe. Your Jib halyard is attached to the end of the Gin Pole and cleated off at the mast. You could use a small boat winch mounted on the Gin Pole to pull your mast up, or you could use your boom vang with a longer line on it and attach it to your bow stem chain plate to the bottom end of the Gin Pole. I opted for the boom vang myself.
The Gin Pole provides the angle needed to raise/lower the mast from aft. The mast crutch holds the mast heigh enough over the cabin top to enable you to pin the tabernacle.
If your boat has a furler, you need temporary stays to hold your mast so it doesn't go over sideways. Otherwise, you can get along without (baby stays) temporary stays provided that the boat is level, and that the wind is coming directly from the stern. These two are very cruicial regardless of whether you have a furler or not.

As for the shade: It depends on whether you want it at anchor or while sailing. At anchor I set two and sometimes three polytarps up on my boat and it really makes a large difference. It's also great for rainy days.
While sailing: I sometimes set up what I call " A poor sailor's Bimini Top." The stern rail on my 86 OD 222 is a little different than most, and it allows me to use a small polytarp and a telescopic boat hook to make it work.
My dog Penny usually sails with me and I'm concerned with keeping her as cool as possible. I sometimes use a golf umbrella to keep the sun off her and I also wet her down with a weed sprayer filled with water. The sprayer also comes in handy for rinsing off sudsy dishes.
My main tarp is an 8'x10' which I tie off over the boom to the lifelines, and the other two are 5'x7'. You can buy them at Walmart pretty cheap. I have pics and info that I'd be glad to share with you. Just email me at sailtrinkka1986@verizon.net
Joe

RichBone · Nov 21, 2011

Arthurg said:
Yes.

My parents had a lot on the lake for years- mainly so my dad had a place to fish.

I worked out a way to raise my mast-
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=1052

Rich

RichBone · Nov 21, 2011

Arthurg said:
Rich,
Thank you for your reply and especially for sending pictures; pictures are really going to help me. Do you have a detail picture of the end of pipe that fastens to the 2x4 ? Looks like you an insert that fastens pipe to 2x4.

So your dad owned a lot on our lake, about where was it? We live on the south end on the east side; the area they call the 'cliffs' (we're up high). I can fish off my shoreline and I do some ice fishing.

What make of boat do you have as it has an anchor locker which I wish I had.

My email address is: aggreenm@comcast.net

Thanks, Art

It was just an undeveloped lot he bought so he be a property owner and have use of the lake. Don't remember where it was.

It's an i-bolt attached to the 2x4 and slips into the end of the pipe.

Rich

Stepping mast

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