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