THE EASY WAY:
In short, lower the mast forward, using the boom as a 'gin pole', and
using the main sheet as your raising/lowering tackle. A pair of
steadying guy lines are required to prevent the boom from flopping
over. Secure one end of each guy near the aft end of the boom.
Secure the other end at the upper shroud chainplates or other strong
point exactly abeam of the mast foot. If the attachment point for the
guys is at the same height as the mast pivot point, you won't have to
worry about adjusting the length of the guys as you raise or lower the
mast. Otherwise, watch the guys and adjust tension as needed. For
example, if (as usually the case) your chainplates are lower than the
mast foot, the guys will get looser as you lower the mast, and v.v.
I use rolling hitches on the guys, making tension adjustments very
easy. If your mainsheet tackle is not long enough to lower the mast
into a crutch, you can use a spare vang tackle to extend it. Be sure
to rig the 2 tackles together BEFORE starting the lowering process.
You can leave all standing rigging up before lowering....just part the
backstay at the last minute. When raising the mast, be sure to watch
for turnbuckles and other rigging getting flopped over the wrong way
and jammed up.

If your raising/lowering tackles are equipped with jam cleats or some
other easy way of securing them, you can easily perform the whole
process alone, and even in the water. Some kind of crutch or gallows
that cradles the mast above deck level, preferably beyond its balance
point, makes everything much easier.
Paul Mathews


(Tim) wrote in message om...
Hello,
I need to lower the mast on my space sailer 22 (22ft masthead
keelboat) (see earlier messages regarding halyards). I have had
experience doing this on larger yachts (30 and 32 ft) but they involve
some pretty heavy masts. On those boats the technique was to set up an
A-frame using 2 spinnaker poles and lower backwards using substantial
tackles from a winch.

For a 22 foot boat, do you think the A-frame and large tackle will be
needed? Would it be sufficient to lower the mast using a simpler 2
part purchase and just support it when it is down by hand (I have a
cradle etc but seeing as I am taking the mast off I will just get
someone to unbolt it once it is down and held)??

Looking at the mast it doesn't seem that heavy but having no
experience with doing this on a boat this small it is hard to tell.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Tim