Ok, so call me cheap...... With my S boat and a keel stepped 46 ft mast the fact that it was about $200 to step the mast seemed like a requirement. With the Sailmaster mast at 26 ft and tabernacle mounted $150 seems like a ridiculous expense. Given the tabernacle/mast arrangement why couldn't I set the base in the tabernacle, get 2 guys to lift with a 3rd at the stem fitting with a come along arrangement to take up the slack? If folks think this would work out should I use my main halyard from the masthead
or go with a loose line at the height of the spreaders in order to decrease the angle? I woldn't even need a gin pole arrangement the way I envision this. Any one know of any sort of online discussion on the process?
As always - thanks for your thoughts
mast stepping...
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- Deck Grunge Scrubber
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Re: mast stepping...
some discussion here
http://home.att.net/~sail-trailers/mastlift.html
another method, used with our 22.5 electra, was one man standing "wallenda style" with the mast horizontal atop a suitable waterside building--we used the marina's fueldock shed--and another on deck: then the mast can be pivoted, the butt inserted into the on-deck step,and some rigging afixed.
http://home.att.net/~sail-trailers/mastlift.html
another method, used with our 22.5 electra, was one man standing "wallenda style" with the mast horizontal atop a suitable waterside building--we used the marina's fueldock shed--and another on deck: then the mast can be pivoted, the butt inserted into the on-deck step,and some rigging afixed.
Last edited by tpl on Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- Chris Campbell
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Re: mast stepping...
I always managed to step the mast on my 22 without a crane, or a tabernacle, for that matter. We did it with four guys - one to start lifting an end, two to keep the foot still (which you wouldn't worry about with a tabernacle) and act as human gin poles, and one to drag it upright with the forestay. I always connected the cap shrouds and backstay ahead of time so that when the mast went vertical it was nearly secure - just the forestay to attach and all was well.
My second boat had a much taller mast and by then I was a member at a club with a mast crane so I never had a problem - but the people I bought her from launched and hauled themselves in their backyard and always managed to step and unstep the mast themselves. I don't know how they did it early on, but their method later (an improvement, they said) involved a lightweight A-frame with a line and a block to support the mast and lines fore and aft to keep the A-frame upright. A bit of an investment, but it'll probably pay for itself in the first season, and provide some peace of mind over just using muscles, as I did...
Good luck! And let us know how you decide to manage it in the end, of course!
Cheers,
Chris
My second boat had a much taller mast and by then I was a member at a club with a mast crane so I never had a problem - but the people I bought her from launched and hauled themselves in their backyard and always managed to step and unstep the mast themselves. I don't know how they did it early on, but their method later (an improvement, they said) involved a lightweight A-frame with a line and a block to support the mast and lines fore and aft to keep the A-frame upright. A bit of an investment, but it'll probably pay for itself in the first season, and provide some peace of mind over just using muscles, as I did...
Good luck! And let us know how you decide to manage it in the end, of course!
Cheers,
Chris
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Re: mast stepping...
26 feet with a few people is doable. That said, it's a neat project to work out a ginpole arrangement, lateral stabilization and purchase. (use the main sheet, not a come along, way too cumbersome for the amount of travel....three-four resets, PITA.)
If you set it up right, you can do it by yourself....saves having to feed the help.
If you set it up right, you can do it by yourself....saves having to feed the help.
Out there, alone, there is only truth.
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Re: mast stepping...
I still like my extension ladder better than fab-ing up a gin pole. Then when its not being used to step the mast, you can paint the house ;) Use a line to hold up the ladder at an appropriate angle over the tabernacle, the main sheet instead of a come-a-long. Use a ladder with rubber feet so as to not mar the deck and provide slip resistance (not really a factor). Dave.
Never finish all your projects or you'll be bored.