The Adventure begins...

[Tom Hoffman]

Finally after months of procrastinating and weather delays, labor strikes, (I just didn't want too work on that darn boat), my wife's vacation forced us to get it mostly done.

Dave of (cephius (Dave)) of this forum who lives up at Rochester Mn, has kindly volunteered to take this novice sailor under his wing and help him fly, or at least plow around the Mississippi River, Lake Pepin, we are going to meet up at the Dan's Marina, on the Wisconsin side tomorrow at the comfortable hour of 10:00 hours.

I just spoke with him and told thim we were probably going to look like the Beverly Hillbillies coming to town. Nothing is neat and ship shape like it should be, but hopefully we are not missing too much stuff.

I will take lots of pictures of the re entry into the water of our slightly tubby old Momma Goose. She's not quite a swan. But close.

Cheers.

Tom...

We will be gone a week. What a way to get the kinks out...

 

[woodster]

Finally after months of procrastinating and weather delays, labor strikes, (I just didn't want too work on that darn boat), my wife's vacation forced us to get it mostly done.

Dave of (cephius (Dave)) of this forum who lives up at Rochester Mn, has kindly volunteered to take this novice sailor under his wing and help him fly, or at least plow around the Mississippi River, Lake Pepin, we are going to meet up at the Dan's Marina, on the Wisconsin side tomorrow at the comfortable hour of 10:00 hours.

I just spoke with him and told thim we were probably going to look like the Beverly Hillbillies coming to town. Nothing is neat and ship shape like it should be, but hopefully we are not missing too much stuff.

I will take lots of pictures of the re entry into the water of our slightly tubby old Momma Goose. She's not quite a swan. But close.

Cheers.

Tom...

We will be gone a week. What a way to get the kinks out...

good luck and have fun ....its always nice to have a mentor in your corner..

regards

woody

 

[Billbeard]

Hope you have a great time ,weather and luck

 

[Tom Hoffman]

The Adventure continuing....

Well, we made it up to Lake Pepin on Saturday by 10:00. Dave found us lost and trying to figure out where to go. The morning dawned (04:00) cool and pleasant. By the time we started to try and raise the mast, the temp was 90+ and high humidity.

Me being fat and out of shape doing something I had never done before. Was seriously having problems with the heat. Dave was endlessly patient and a good teacher.

We got the mast up only to realise that the wire rope halyard for the jib had excaped and made its way to the mast head and could not be retreived. Nothing for it but to lower the mast and while doing that with the able assistance of a couple of young strong Harley Riders who happened to be close by and would work for beer. The mast came down and in the process some how we managed to pop the mast step plate out of the deck.

Game Over!:cry:

We tried to find hardware to fix it on site and nothing was to be had. It was getting late in the day and we decided to go to Rochester to look for pieces and parts to effect repairs on the morrow.

Dave and Kathy (the Admiral) were gracious enough to invite us to lodge with them for the evening and he allowed me to avail myself of his shop and make a nice solid 3/4" backing block out of beautiful black walnut. We had gotten sutible hardware from the Farm/Fleet store so we were armed to return to the scene the next day and make repairs.

Over night common sense set in and my Admiral decided that we should go home and make the repairs since were also missing critical boom handling block and tackle and nothing was available at the marina to deal with that.

They took us back to the Marina and we spent a plesant afternoon sailing in a beautiful Hunter 26 that they had purchased new and he had fitted out with all kinds of helps and features to make it a breeze to sail.

We had a really nice time and I got to take the helm for the last third of the voyage.

That was mistake.

Now I have a serious case of Boat envy. Mine seems like a model B John Deer tractor compared to a Cadillac.

to be continued....

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Gin Pole

Tom,
Thanks for the kind words.

Here is a drawing that shows how the Gin Pole is used. I hope that helps.


Check out this video for a look at how the gin pole leverage works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM8m-Orrspo

 

[dscribner]

My gin pole

Since we trailer every time (others do also) I wanted to make sure that I wasn't hunting for parts or missing things or using my main sheet to step the mast. So, I made this gin pole out of a painted fence pipe. With it I can single handedly step the mast of my Lancer 25 in about ten minutes. The worst thing is making sure the shrouds and stays aren't catching on anything. We almost did damage to the cockpit one time because the backstay had caught on the traveler and we didn't notice. Anyway, I slide the mast down until I can lock the base in the tabernacle. Then I slip on the gin pole, lean it forward to clip on the short blue line to a line attached to the mast only for raising it. I lean the pole back into place (plumb) and attach it to the mast with the Velcro strap. I pay out line and attach the block to the bow cleat. Spread the blue guys to stay the pole from going over and I'm ready to heave. I also have some temporary stays to keep the mast from heading overboard before the standing stays take over.

 

[dscribner]

Oops, I forgot to mention that the block and tackle is (are) housed in PVC pipe. The idea was to cover them in an expanding cover so nothing can damage the lines. I tried Sunbrella . . . too thick. I tried ripstop . . . too thin. I have (no laughing) a 10'0 length of RV sewer line that just may do the trick. Too bad it's brown and not a pretty capris blue.

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Thanks everyone. Especially thank you for the pictures. I have done a search on google and found dozens of pictures showing gin pole raising rigs.

I have my mast step plate made and am ready to install it as soon as the temp. moderates a bit and I can get in the boat.

I think I have about decided to make an "A" frame out of 2 pieces of steel electrical conduit and then attach a cable to the top of the "A" frame to a small electric winch mounted either to the tongue of the trailer or to a plate in my pick up bed. With a wireless remote, I can then be on board and control the winch and check for fouling and not have to be pulling on a block and tackle.

I am going to make my mast crutch to be semi permanent (it will hold the mast in place while triliering 6-12" higher than now) and then be able to be reversed and raise the mast 5-6' above the transom for raising. It will be in my rudder gudgeon plates. That way, I don't have to make any more holes in my boat. Once the mast is raised, then the rudder get's set in place and the crutch and gin pole get stored on the trailer till we get back to reverse everything.

 

[RichBone]

Here's my solution
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=1052&pictureid=6927

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Here's my solution
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=1052&pictureid=6927

Hey, That looks even simpler. Just use my 2 speed hand crank winch on my trailer. I could just extend the tube up like yours is and add the pulley and that would work.

I am curious, why did you go to the trouble to add the wood for a place to fasten your A frame instead of using your chain plates to fasten too?

My chain plates have two attachemnt holes and I had thought to use one of them on each side to temporarily attach the pole too with a clevis pin through a flattened tube end. Once everything is up, just take the poles down and reattach the shroud that is loose.

Tom...

 

[Sumner]

Personally I want to have the option of raising or lowering the mast on the water. We do it on the trailer whenever possible, but there are times you might want to do it on the water. In Idaho we almost sailed a lake where to get from one part to another you have to lower the mast to get under a bridge. Also at the lake there was a nice ramp, but you had to go under a railroad bridge a short distance from the ramp to get to the lake proper. We hope to do the Erie Canal and would like to raise the mast at a couple lakes along the way. This past fall while we were waiting for a friend to show up with our Suburban and trailer we were able to take the mast down and that saved doing it in the dark.

The system that came with our Mac just involves a gin pole that can be stored below or at the front of the mast. A block and tackle and you use the winches on the boat if you want to make it real easy. You can cleat off at any point in raising or lowering. The baby stays (two lower middle arrows) keep the mast centered while raising and thus you don't need a bulkier A-frame.

Here is a link on our site to the system.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/rigging-2.html

And here is also a link for a Mac add that shows it in use....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7076785769434785211#

....a little after 3 minutes showing it going under a bridge and then again later in the video at about 15 minutes in.

This is a very simple system to construct and won't cost much either,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Sumner, I found the Mac site by accident and saw that system, then today, while looking around, I saw a guy in Texas who had made his own jib furler. I emailed him and he called me and he suggested that site too. I went back this afternoon and after looking at the larger pictuers. I decided to go with it. My only question is what to fasten the jib pole to the mast with.

I ordered a nice small Brake winch from Northern Tool this afternoon late and will get the pole tomorrow, then I only have to figure out how to cut a slot in the pole just shy of the top to install a sheave in it so the cable can run through and down to the jib stay plate on the bow. Then a "U" bolt through the top of the pole toward the mast head to attach the Jib halyard or some other line to it.

That should work. Question: My mast is 28,' how tall should my jib pole be?

Tom...

 

[Sumner]

I'm confused, are you making a system like the newer MacGregor M's have with the winch on the pole?

Do you have ....

... winches like in the picture on your boat. If so you don't need another winch, use those with a .....

... block and tackle that is attached to the gin pole and to the deck with its line running back to the winch. This way the gin pole only needs to pivot at the mast base and at the top you attach the jib halyard coming from the mast to one side and the block and tackle to the other. All very simple.

The Mac comes with a....

.....mast plate that has hole for the gin pole forward. Have your friend who does the stainless work bend you up a plate with holes for the gin pole and sandwich it under your mast plate. The plate could be made from steel and painted or powder coated also.

I'll measure my pole tomorrow, but think it is about 6 feet and my mast is probably taller than yours. The length isn't too critical.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Here is what they have on Mac's site now for a jib pole system, and that is what I decided to buy the brake winch to make just like the one in the picture. I decided to use this system, rather than use the deck winch because this way, I have control of it all from up on the fore deck rather than rely on some one else to be at the winch.

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/mast_raising.html

As far as adding an attachment point all I will need is a couple of small pieces of SS added to the front sides of the step plate edges with a 3/8" hole drilled horizontally through both to insert the yoke end of the pole with a clevis pin or bolt through like yours show.

Now that I look at the picture again, Mac's pole is just a foot or so taller than the man on the boat. I don't think I have a whisker pole track like you do, but I can pop rivit on a small plate with a ring attached to connect to the mast like you see in the picture. It only looks to be about as high as I can reach to the ring.

Thank you for the help, I think I have it pretty much all figured out now.

Tom...

 

[Sumner]

......I decided to use this system, rather than use the deck winch because this way, I have control of it all from up on the fore deck rather than rely on some one else to be at the winch.

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/mast_raising.html

..........

That is a nice system, but I don't want to have to store the winch also on the boat. Of course I have to store the block and tackle, but I also use that to .............

....raise and lower the dinghy outboard.......

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-16.html

With the older system like I have you can also easily raise the mast by yourself, I do it all the time. You can cleat it off with the cam cleat at the winch at any point and I also cleat it off behind that to a normal cleat just for safety. Be sure and use the baby stays, they are a must.

Post some pictures when done,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Stu Jackson]

Take care with an electric winch 'cuz you won't be able to "feel" resistance until it may be too late to avoid damage.

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Going with a hand crank instead of electric.

Take care with an electric winch 'cuz you won't be able to "feel" resistance until it may be too late to avoid damage.

Stu, I have decided to not use the electric winch. I am going with a small brake winch as shown in this picture. It is a hand crank model.

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/mast_raising.html

Should be able to feel any resistance with this one.

Tom...

 

[timebandit]

I hate to brag but my gin pole/ jib boom/ main boom extension and sorta wisker pole is 8 1/2 feet long 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/8 of an inch thick.

I use my main sheet bolck and tackle for raising the boom and can lock it in any position on the way up or down to clear lines and stuff.

The side stays are a combination of motorcycle soft ties attached just above the mast cleats so they won't slide down and rachett tie downs.

In this picture the pole is being used as jib boom but reverse it and the two pad eyes become mounting points for the jib halyard and the main sheet block and tackle and that little dodad just in front of the mast is the pivot point for the gin pole. That little dodad will also allow the pole to pivot up and be attached to the mast but I have found so manny uses for that pole that it never gets there,

If I just can't find any other use for the pole it just gets clipped on the lifeline out of the way.

If I were to use line like Sumner the only part of the raising system that would not be used for something else would be about 20 feet of line and I am sure I could put that to use.

 

[dscribner]

Timebandit,

I used to do the same but I did't like using boat parts for utility purposes, That's why I added the DIY block and tackle to mine. Everything I need is there. I loose things otherwise.

Tom,

As far as height . . .how high can you reach and how long is the bed of your truck? You might want to not exceed your reach, in case something goes awry and if you plan to store it in the truck bed instead of in the boat, you'll want to makes sure it fits kitty corner at least. Otherwise, my mast is about the same as yours and my pole is about 7 feet long. If something goes wrong up top, I'll have my wife take care of it because she's a little taller than me and her butt looks great when she's on her tippy toes. (call me "Cunningham, the clever pig"). Hey, 29 years of marriage and I'm still looking. That's a good thing, right?

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Still lookin'...

As far as height . . .how high can you reach and how long is the bed of your truck? You might want to not exceed your reach, in case something goes awry and if you plan to store it in the truck bed instead of in the boat, you'll want to makes sure it fits kitty corner at least. Otherwise, my mast is about the same as yours and my pole is about 7 feet long. If something goes wrong up top, I'll have my wife take care of it because she's a little taller than me and her butt looks great when she's on her tippy toes. (call me "Cunningham, the clever pig"). Hey, 29 years of marriage and I'm still looking. That's a good thing, right?

Thanks, DSC..

I was kind of thinking along those lines. I can reach a little over 8' so that is probably the ht. that I will go with for the pole and for the attachemnt point on the mast.

Hey, I have been married to my second wife for going on 19 years and I still look. Sometimes that is all I do. HaHaHa!!! Fond memories are good. She is my FIRST MATE and Admiral all in one. You know you have finally grown up, when your first thought is: "Is what I am planning, good for my friend (wife) too. Or is it just me being selfish?"

I try really hard not to let the selfish side take over. It's a struggle sometimes.

G'Day to ya'.

Tom...