Stepping the mast

[Richard]

I am getting ready to haul my 1982 H-25 out of the water for its annual hull cleaning. This time I plan on taking the mast down to do some repair work on a broken forestay, an adventure I have never tried before. How heavy is this mast likely to be? Any tips on getting the mast down without the awful sounds of "crash, bang, boom, thud"?

 

[JChiarito]

Umm,,have 'them' lower it for you at the Haul-Out? that is to say if a Marina is doing it.The Nanimo SJ-23 site has some excallent tips, diagrams in simple Mast Stepping,,and includes an A-Frame setup that I intend to use on my HUN22*.It worked on my SJ-24, so orta work on just about any Steppable Masted Boat. I have seen an A-Frame used on a Catalina here locally and was a 2 person operation,,but was neat and safe. As far as the Crash,Boom, Bang,,well it happens. But with Morely Lines and a good overall plan,,that can be avoided. The Weight is not a problem,,[most of em average around 85-160lbs] but by Angleing this weight is reduced. Still get 2 or 3 people to assist you in that operation.JChiarito

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Be careful

If you do not know what you are doing with out any help, please take it to a yard and let them take the mast down as a safety matter.crazy Dave

 

[Gill]

No problem

I had my first experience with stepping the mast on my 82 H25 this fall. I used the Marina's mast stepping tower & lifted the mast straight up & then slowly let the mast down horizontally. I was able to accomplish this myself but it would have been a lot easier with 2 people. I estimate the weight of the mast at around 200#'s. Good luck.

 

[Randy Burns]

A tripod

Because I live in the sticks,(and I'm cheap), I built a tripod out of 16' 2x4 ripped down to 2 1/2". I drop the mast forward onto the pulpit using a halyard. One leg of the tripod goes to my rudder post (with a jury rigged bracket) the other 2 get bolted threw the rubrail. It should work with out a hitch, but never does. It takes a minimum of two people and doesn't weigh (the mast) that much because I can carry it. The problem always seems to be the standing rigging getting hung up and/or twisted.Have someone do it, or practice with a 30' extension ladder first.

 

[Wanderer138]

Try a mast-raising rig

There are three or four mast-raising rigs in the HOW Photo Forum that were designed by H23 owners. You can also search the Forum Archives under "mast raising rig" for the H23.These rigs well-documented and all are quite inexpensive (certainly cheaper than paying a boatyard to unstep the mast). The H23 mast is tall (28 feet) for the size of the boat, so you may not even have to make modify any of the rigs to fit your H25. Assuming the H25 mast can pivot at the base, one of these systems should work for you. Good luck.PeterH23 "Raven"