Using a winch to $tep your mast

[r.oril]

I did a search of the forums and found several postings of those that use a winch to step their mast. Question: Is it worth it for a "senior" trailer sailer?
I currently use a hand crank and a Jin Pole on My 26D with a furler.
Thanks

 

[Ross]

What does your hand crank turn? I would guess that it is some sort of a winch already. Is it a reasonable effort or at the limits of you strength?

 

[Dave D]

somewhere on this forum there was at least one fellow that added and electric winch to his trailer which ran off of power from the tow vehicle. If I still had my boat (BIG stinkin' on that one) I would do it in a heartbeat. The stepping was always the least enjoyable and I can't tell you how twisted my guts would get when having to do it myself. A winch with a remote would be like having extra hand.

 

[larryw]

Many moons ago I had a Catalina 22 that I rigged up a mast-raising system using a pole anchored on the trailer tongue with a pulley on top to achieve the proper angle, then used the trailer winch and two guide lines to raise the mast. Worked great. I built a system to guide the boat onto the trailer, a tongue extension, a spare tire mount, but I had a welding machine then, don't anymore.

 

[Ross]

On my 30 foot Islander I connect the back stay and the upper shrouds and the lower aft shrouds. Then with a gin pole and my primary sheet winch I can raise the mast with just one helper.

 

[dscribner]

R.oril,

I'm with Ross.

We step the mast on our Lancer every time we sail. Yeah, it's a pain in the back for sure. I considered an electric winch to to the trick but have opted to keep the gin pole and block-and-tackle for right now. My concern, other than money, was the speed of stepping. I can really reef on the line between blows if it's gusty, to get it up quickly. Once, my son stood on the ground with a line to the mast, leaning into the wind just to keep the mast from going over before stays took over. I use temporary stays but they have limited affect and the wind had exceeded their usefulness.

 

[RECESS]

I have raised and lowered using both the gin pole and the trailer winch. When I did it from the trailer winch I thought it was the cat's meow. Both people on the boat using a gin pole has proved to be a better situation for me and the wife. I like the angle of the halyard better using a gin pole.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[caguy]

R.oril,

I'm with Ross.

We step the mast on our Lancer every time we sail. Yeah, it's a pain in the back for sure. I considered an electric winch to to the trick but have opted to keep the gin pole and block-and-tackle for right now. My concern, other than money, was the speed of stepping. I can really reef on the line between blows if it's gusty, to get it up quickly. Once, my son stood on the ground with a line to the mast, leaning into the wind just to keep the mast from going over before stays took over. I use temporary stays but they have limited affect and the wind had exceeded their usefulness.

I had a chance to help Novelman with his Lancer 25. His raises from the front and we used the boom as our gin pole and the main sheet blocks with a long rope. The purchase was 4:1 and even with that the pull was considerable. Granted he was a 78 yr old fart but and old fart in good sjape.
My Cat 27 hinges from the front. Supporting the mast is problematic. I've rigged an extension ladder to the tailgate with a roller. Hoping to try out next week.

 

[dscribner]

The mast is suppose to be stepped from the bow but we don't do it that way for the reason that you just alluded to. The mast passes its balance point on the rail making it very ungainly. Also, in order to raise it you have to walk all over the companionway cover and it has no non-slip tread on it. I made my own tabernacle and added a fixed pin in the base of the mast. We roll the mast rearward, drop the base into an "L" slot in the new tabernacle then slide it forward and it drops into place. Seem to wok quite well . . . so far.

 

[r.oril]

Big Thanks for all your inputs guys. Gives me something to think about.

I use a Harbor Freight hand crank and it is not a physical problem to "get it up". (that's what he said) The baby stays help keep it streight but I still worry that something might go wrong/break. Also, one of the wires always gets caught, !@#$%^&*, and I have to stop, lock the winch, release the wire. I like the idea of the winch on the trailer.
Thanks again for your input.

 

[Thomas Dynneson]

I have a Hunter 23.5 and I am in the process of rigging an electric winch in the anchor locker and plan to power it with a carry and jump battery pack. The mast is steadied by pelican wires for the raising. I hope to raise the mast from the ground off the boat in a slow way to check everything. I am seventy-five years of age, but in good shape. I do not like like working with the block and tackle and whisker pole from the bow area as it can be dangerous, especially if raising the mast in a parking lot. Still experimenting.

 

[soling42]

I guess I'm the other guy Dave mentioned who uses a 12v powered winch setup for my mast step. I started with a trailer mounted system but refined it to a simpler on-board setup. After 40-50 trouble free lifts I gotta say it's a breeze on our H260.

The basic setup is a 12v atv winch w/remote and brake for $49 from Harbor freight powered by a small 12v jump start pack. I keep my gear in a small canvas bag, attach the winch in the anchor locker (replacing the block and sheets), hook it to the gin pole, align the stays and hit the remote.

Our 260 has permanent mast braces that maintain mast alignment making the lift safe and virtually hands free. It lifts at an ideal speed, the winch is plenty strong but not so strong that it'll break anything and can stop safely at any point. I use a Johnson folding closure on the forestay to draw down the final 2-3" making the whole mast raising a very simple affair.

Good luck, Mike. Here's a few pics

 

[OldCat]

Winch SAFETY

I did a search of the forums and found several postings of those that use a winch to step their mast. Question: Is it worth it for a "senior" trailer sailer?
I currently use a hand crank and a Jin Pole on My 26D with a furler.
Thanks

The typical hand crank winch (like most trailer winches) is very UNSAFE for raising a mast. Any winch that can drive the handle backwards under load is unsafe for a mast or swing keel. The last thing you want is to slip your hand off the handle and have the handle beating the tar out of you.

Safe winches:
Swing keel friction clutch winches - they cannot be back driven by a load. Catalina Direct has these - this is what I have on my mast raising system (it came with the boat, I did not build it).
Most electric winches that I am aware of cannot be back driven by the load.

There may be other safe options - but a slip of the hand and a trip to the hospital is no fun.

OC

 

[Ross]

Re: Winch SAFETY

Many hand cranked winches are equiped with an anti-reverse ratchet. As you crank them they take up but won't let go by accident.

 

[OldCat]

Many hand cranked winches are equiped with an anti-reverse ratchet. As you crank them they take up but won't let go by accident.

They don't all have the ability to do that going down - and I assume that the mast raiser is also to take it down.

OC