What's a Johnson bar??

[jeanmarc109]

I am piecing together a mast stepping system that I can operate solo (no long lines of volunteers to launch, retrieve, set-up, tear down, etc)
I am going back n forth on the right system for me.
I see the toughest part of a solo stepping is connecting the fueling to the bow chain plate (assuming right term used )
I see many members speak of a Johnson bar n appears this is a way a using leverage to do this job.... Am I right?
How's it work?
What's it look like?
Who's Johnson?

 

[centerline]

if you have a furler, it will be incorporated with your head stay, which the head stay (fore stay, front stay, either term means the same thing) will connect to the stem head fitting, which some mistakenly call the front chain plate.... the chain plates are the what the shrouds connect to on the side of the boat....
you can use a type of johnson bar for leverage, but thats not what you need here. the term your looking for in this case is "gin pole".... a gin pole is used to change the angle of the pull from the mast to the stemhead fitting, so that the mast can be raised..... search using a gin pole or raising mast with gin pole on youtube..... there are sleeker designs than some you will see, but you can get the idea of the geometrics involved...

 

[Bob McL]

Try this for a picture: http://www.downwindmarine.com/Johnson-Quick-Release-Levers-p-90890707.html

 

[jeanmarc109]

thanks for the input
Ive got the gin pole mast stepping pretty well lined up in my mind.
i was thinking down the line.. at how i can connect the furler to the stem head fitting (thanks for the term ) without aa seconf pair of hands.

 

[Sumner]

thanks for the input
Ive got the gin pole mast stepping pretty well lined up in my mind.
i was thinking down the line.. at how i can connect the furler to the stem head fitting (thanks for the term ) without aa seconf pair of hands.

I pull the mast up with the block and tackle and gin pole...

... and then cleat it off and go forward and pin the forestay with the ..

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/rigging-24.html

... Johnson Lever and put it over-center and pin it.

Before the Johnson Lever I'd have the turnbuckle unscrewed enough to raise the mast and cleat the block and tackle line off and go forward and pin the forestay and then tighten the turnbuckle to tension the rig the rest of the way.

With the Johnson lever you no longer have to mess with the turnbuckle once you have it set. That is really a big plus with a furler where the turnbuckle is up in the furler drum. Without it you won't have a 'lot' of tension just pulling and pinning. Pre-Johnson lever days we had hank-on sails and it was not a problem to get to the turnbuckle.

There is more on our mast raising system down the page a ways here ....

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

The nice thing is you don't have to worry about the rigging snagging, you falling down and dropping the mast and it just takes a couple minutes to rig and use. I did the push it up by hand a couple times and at my age felt that it was just going to be a disaster waiting to happen,

Sum

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[jeanmarc109]

I pull the mast up with the block and tackle and gin pole...

... and then cleat it off and go forward and pin the forestay with the ..

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/rigging-24.html

... Johnson Lever and put it over-center and pin it.

Before the Johnson Lever I'd have the turnbuckle unscrewed enough to raise the mast and cleat the block and tackle line off and go forward and pin the forestay and then tighten the turnbuckle to tension the rig the rest of the way.

With the Johnson lever you no longer have to mess with the turnbuckle once you have it set. That is really a big plus with a furler where the turnbuckle is up in the furler drum. Without it you won't have a 'lot' of tension just pulling and pinning. Pre-Johnson lever days we had hank-on sails and it was not a problem to get to the turnbuckle.

There is more on our mast raising system down the page a ways here ....

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

The nice thing is you don't have to worry about the rigging snagging, you falling down and dropping the mast and it just takes a couple minutes to rig and use. I did the push it up by hand a couple times and at my age felt that it was just going to be a disaster waiting to happen,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

Sumner,
I was hoping you would weigh in!!
I always like your enginuity!
i expect to copy your design.
i am cool with all of the components except how the gin pole attaches to the base of the mast

have you got close ups
i looked at mine in dont see how i can mimic you set up

 

[Sumner]

....have you got close ups
i looked at mine in dont see how i can mimic you set up

Did you see the other pictures here????

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

I can't take credit for the system as it came with the boat and I believe that it was stock. You probably have a couple options at the base of the mast and maybe some of the guys with a 25 will have pictures of what they did.

Good luck,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT]

 

[Chris & Lenore]

Speaking of mast raising with a furler, I found that attaching the drum to the end of the gin pole really makes it easier. The drum and fuller end up close to where you want to pin them. Before this I needed a second person to wrestle the furler while the mast went up.

Chris

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Well, just for the record.....a johnson bar....used in construction, for one, is a long steel bar (4-5' long is usual) with various ends (like a point, or a flat end, sometimes curved at the end), that is used to pry stuff apart, or for leverage, but it is not considered to be a sailboat part or tool. I carry a couple in my truck when hauling boats when I need to muscle a cradle up or down or about, or free up a chain, or something, but I have never used one on a boat itself, except to maybe help support the end of a roller furling that sticks out beyond the mast which might break when going down the road due to whipping up and down. I tie the Johnson bar in to give it more support, but wood works too.

 

[seabrooksailor]

That's a great system sum hope you don't mind but I'm gonna copy it

 

[tkanzler]

I use the standard 26X mast raising system (gin pole), and crank down a bit at the end so I can make the pin by myself, either laying on the deck, or from the ladder on the trailer if I do it on the trailer. The backstay goes on last, with a turnbuckle to snug it slightly. Very quick.

I use a 5-part reeving system on the gin pole, though. The OEM fiddle blocks, same as the boom vang and main sheet (though without the jammer), use plain bearings (sleeve), and very small sheaves. I had some rather large Harken blocks that have no earthly use on a boat this small other than mast raising, and being ball bearing with 3" sheaves, I can raise the mast without the aid of a winch. I have a 3-sheave block on the bottom, and a 2-sheave with becket on the gin pole.

I wouldn't want to buy those blocks new, though, as WM lists them for $265 and $174 each. I got them for free from my FIL, so I'm happy I found a real good use for them. :dance: The standard vang and main sheet blocks work fine if you use a cabin top winch, though. Use good snap shackles on each end, and switchover can be quick and painless.

 

[finding41]

I was looking at the tile of this thread and thinking. A Johnson bar on a boat? If you drop it the wrong way it would go right through the hull! Kind of like Bill was thinking. I use one as more of a wrecking bar or persuader.
Then I saw how many people had responded so took a look and learnt what that thing was on my AFT-stay?
Is there any reason it would be there on my 26D? I just got the mast strait and I haven't had time to tune the rig yet. I am wondering if I should have it on the for-stay now. I plan to install a roller furler hybrid this summer. (Snapfurl 700 top and bottom without the plastic extrusion but with PVC and my hank on genoa.) I may have to raise the for-stay up the mast a bit to fit it in. I have yet to fly the genao. Soon though.