I use a 2x4 with a notch that fits the base of the mast and then have a
block and an eye-bolt on the other end. Works great, cost less than $5

"Bob" wrote in message
news
I have a MAC 26 with the mast raising kit. It works very well and one
person
can safely raise and lower the mast easily and stress free on the trailer
or
on the water. It is a very simple inexpensive system. I think it would be
easy to replicate. A great advantage is being able to stop at any time to
straighten out a twisted shroud line. I have the boat on the trailer in
Ottawa if you would like to see the system they use contact me through my
email.
Bob
(delete "remove" in the email address)



"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can
wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the mast
poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a tabernacle
I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree
angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the
forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick

On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 17:04:20 GMT, "Bob"
wrote this crap:

I have a MAC 26 with the mast raising kit. It works very well and one person
can safely raise and lower the mast easily and stress free on the trailer


Why bother? All you do is motor around.





Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!

I have a Bayfield 25 and have just completed a mast raising/lowering
system. It uses the upper shrouds to steady the mast laterally, and a gin
pole. The boom is removed and the mast is toward the stern when down,
resting on a temporary support structure.

My mast is stepped on the deck and pivots on a hinge bolt about a transverse
axis. I made clamps which attach to the upper shrouds at the same level as
the axis of the hinge bolt. Each of these clamps attaches to the apex of a
triangular strut structure based on the toerail. The apex is in line with
the axis of the hinge bolt. The mast gets lowered toward, or raised from,
the stern, and the clamps are free to pivot at the apex of the struts. I
have to disconnect the upper shrouds from the chainplates, otherwise they
would be bent sharply. The upper shrouds have only a bit of slack during
this process, so the mast can only sway from side to side about 8". I leave
the clamps on the upper shrouds, but dismantle the struts when not in use.

I use a whisker pole as the gin pole, attached to the mast near its base.
The jib sheet is tied to the end of the whisker pole and cleated at the mast
so that the pole is close to perpendicular to the mast. The mainsheet
tackle is used to pull the end of the pole to the bow, thus raising the
mast, vice versa for lowering. During this process a long line tied to the
end of the pole and run through the bow roller and aft to the winch on the
coaming, acts as a safety device. The pole is prevented from falling
sideways by a pair of shrouds of 3/32"" wire cable attached to the
above-mentioned clamps on the boat's outer shrouds. That way the whole
system pivots about the axis of the mast hinge bolt and the four shrouds
don't get excessively slack at any point in the mast swing.

So far I've used a helper, but it should be possible to do it alone with a
bit of practice.

Frank Stokes, Ottawa


"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the mast
poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a tabernacle I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick

thanks for the info guys; i have a 35ft 350lb mast and the boom is only 12
ft so i may have to make a longer gin pole??
The boat is a sloop but i see that a ketch would be ideal.
What length would you think i would need for a ginpole...i have a front
furling foil that is a pain as well so i have to be able to stop and
straighten this as i raise/lower it.
rick

"Bob" wrote in message
news
I have a MAC 26 with the mast raising kit. It works very well and one
person
can safely raise and lower the mast easily and stress free on the trailer
or
on the water. It is a very simple inexpensive system. I think it would be
easy to replicate. A great advantage is being able to stop at any time to
straighten out a twisted shroud line. I have the boat on the trailer in
Ottawa if you would like to see the system they use contact me through my
email.
Bob
(delete "remove" in the email address)



"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can
wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the mast
poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a tabernacle
I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree
angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the
forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick

"rick" wrote in
:

thanks for the info guys; i have a 35ft 350lb mast and the boom is
only 12 ft so i may have to make a longer gin pole??
The boat is a sloop but i see that a ketch would be ideal.
What length would you think i would need for a ginpole...i have a
front furling foil that is a pain as well so i have to be able to stop
and straighten this as i raise/lower it.
rick

"Bob" wrote in message
news
I have a MAC 26 with the mast raising kit. It works very well and one
person
can safely raise and lower the mast easily and stress free on the
trailer
or
on the water. It is a very simple inexpensive system. I think it
would be easy to replicate. A great advantage is being able to stop
at any time to straighten out a twisted shroud line. I have the boat
on the trailer in Ottawa if you would like to see the system they use
contact me through my email.
Bob
(delete "remove" in the email address)



"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can
wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the
mast poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a
tabernacle
I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree
angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the
forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick



My method for such a rig is as foollows(much simpler to do than to
describe.
Materials. 3 handy billys w/cam-cleats. 1 short line(from main tackle
over the ginpole(boom) to the spreader point on mast or above.

Attach the working ends of two billys about midway forward of mast
tabernacle and the lift point. These provide lateral support and aid in
lift.

Attach the third(middle billy to the stemhead or very near that point
with the added line running over(through) top of ginpole to the lift
point on the mast(about spreaders or so).

Tighten the side lifts. Begin lifing, adjusting tension on the side
tackle as you progress. This is somewhat slower than other methods, but
considerably more secure and works well even when the boat is rocking.

I apologize for the poor description, but perhaps you get the gist of the
thing. As I said it is rather simple in practice though.

g'Luk
--
-=The answer is simple...send pretzels to the Whitehouse!=-
MonteP
"Against stupidity, the very gods themselves contend in vain." -
Friedrich von Schiller

OMFG...

a sailboat with a 50hp motor - now I've seen everything!

Why bother even raising the bloody mast?~)



"Bob" wrote in message
news
I have a MAC 26 with the mast raising kit. It works very well and one
person
can safely raise and lower the mast easily and stress free on the trailer
or
on the water. It is a very simple inexpensive system. I think it would be
easy to replicate. A great advantage is being able to stop at any time to
straighten out a twisted shroud line. I have the boat on the trailer in
Ottawa if you would like to see the system they use contact me through my
email.
Bob
(delete "remove" in the email address)



"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can
wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the mast
poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a tabernacle
I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree
angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the
forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick

"Frank Stokes" wrote in message m...
I have a Bayfield 25 and have just completed a mast raising/lowering
system. It uses the upper shrouds to steady the mast laterally, and a gin
pole. The boom is removed and the mast is toward the stern when down,
resting on a temporary support structure.

My mast is stepped on the deck and pivots on a hinge bolt about a transverse
axis. I made clamps which attach to the upper shrouds at the same level as
the axis of the hinge bolt. Each of these clamps attaches to the apex of a
triangular strut structure based on the toerail. The apex is in line with
the axis of the hinge bolt. The mast gets lowered toward, or raised from,
the stern, and the clamps are free to pivot at the apex of the struts. I
have to disconnect the upper shrouds from the chainplates, otherwise they
would be bent sharply. The upper shrouds have only a bit of slack during
this process, so the mast can only sway from side to side about 8". I leave
the clamps on the upper shrouds, but dismantle the struts when not in use.

I use a whisker pole as the gin pole, attached to the mast near its base.
The jib sheet is tied to the end of the whisker pole and cleated at the mast
so that the pole is close to perpendicular to the mast. The mainsheet
tackle is used to pull the end of the pole to the bow, thus raising the
mast, vice versa for lowering. During this process a long line tied to the
end of the pole and run through the bow roller and aft to the winch on the
coaming, acts as a safety device. The pole is prevented from falling
sideways by a pair of shrouds of 3/32"" wire cable attached to the
above-mentioned clamps on the boat's outer shrouds. That way the whole
system pivots about the axis of the mast hinge bolt and the four shrouds
don't get excessively slack at any point in the mast swing.

So far I've used a helper, but it should be possible to do it alone with a
bit of practice.

Frank Stokes, Ottawa


"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the mast
poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a tabernacle I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick



The mast for my 8.5M S2 is danged heavy and I see no reasonable way to
use a gin pole. I have stepped masts on smaller boats (Catalina 22,
S2 23' etc) and this is about 10X harder. We stepped ours using the
crossbar on a travel lift as a lead for the jib halyard. It was tied
to a pickup truck bumper which then drove up the ramp.

Good question!

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"AC" wrote in message
...
OMFG...

a sailboat with a 50hp motor - now I've seen everything!

Why bother even raising the bloody mast?~)



"Bob" wrote in message
news
I have a MAC 26 with the mast raising kit. It works very well and one
person
can safely raise and lower the mast easily and stress free on the
trailer
or
on the water. It is a very simple inexpensive system. I think it would
be
easy to replicate. A great advantage is being able to stop at any time
to
straighten out a twisted shroud line. I have the boat on the trailer in
Ottawa if you would like to see the system they use contact me through
my
email.
Bob
(delete "remove" in the email address)



"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can
wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the
mast
poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a
tabernacle
I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree
angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the
forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick

When I had my Mac 26, I just stood on the coachroof and lifted the mast up
into position in one easy motion. But then, I'm a real man.

Scotty

"Scout" wrote in message
...
I've stepped my mast by myself, but it was a bitch (and my mast is only 27
ft). The range you mention is the worst too, because that is where I must
step up from the cockpit to the cabin deck - not easy. And until the mast
is
nearly erect, the side stays are too loose to offer any side to side
support.
The best system I've found is using two people (minimum). I leave all but
the forestay connected. I extend the boom support line with a temporary
line fitted with a quick disconnect, and have the second person stand at
the
bumper of my truck and keep tension on that line, which helps to lift the
mast and gives me the chance to step up on the cabin deck without the full
weight of the mast on my shoulder. I also carry two truck ramps, and while
I'm rigging, I back the trailer up the ramps, which tilts the boat
slightly
'downhill' and lets gravity help to hold the mast in place while we secure
the forestay.
All in all, it's a pita, and the reason I keep the boat in a marina.
You might look into the mast raising system the Mac26 uses, perhaps you
can
adapt the idea to fit your needs.
http://www.macgregor26.com/mast_raising.htm
Scout



"rick" wrote in message
...
I have found I can trailer my 29ft sailboat just fine and I can
wetlaunch
once I get the trailer galvanised but stepping and un-stepping the mast
poses a problem in areas where there is no crane. If I make a tabernacle
I
need a ginpole or some way to get the mast through the 20-60 degree
angle
where I can't reach it and where the angle is insufficient for the
forstay
to lift it.
Does anybody have any experience stepping their own mast?

I have heard that using the boom as a ginpole might work but???
rick

Hi backatcha..

Looks like I got here via the evils of cross-posting. Not doing much
sailing these days as my "other life" has become busier in the chase for the
illusive dollar.

The poor boat just sits and stares at me now. How sad!

Hope all is well..

DP
"katysails" wrote in message
...
Hi from me, too....have you healed all your aches and woes? You back
sailing yet?

--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.726 / Virus Database: 481 - Release Date: 7/22/2004