How much of an operation is it to get the mast up and down on the average 20 foot or so sailing boat?

[NingNong247]

I'm currently looking for my first small sailing boat. Everything I'm looking at is between 19 and 22 foot. Different models. First I need to get a mooring, and the cheapest one I've found is incredibly cheap, but has an extremely low bridge to get under. Low as in you need to duck below the cabin top. You need to take your mast off before going in.

There isn't a pontoon I can tie up at - I'd have to take the mast down while at anchor or at least on a visitor mooring (at 20 quid a day). Assuming I wait for conditions, Is that realistic? Is that easy enough on a boat this size that I can do it at the beginning and end of a days sailing? If not that easy, is it still easy enough that I would do it at the beginning and the end of the season?

If not even that realistic, how sensible/legal is it to put it on a sandbank, wait for the tide to go out, and do it in a pair wellies?

Any help appreciated.

 

[Minerva]

That would get old very quickly. So much so I would expect you’d go for less than 5 sails before chucking the hobby and bunging the boat on eBay with that mooring setup.

(p.s I wouldn’t entertain that as an idea, even with my wayfarer dinghy.)

 

[KevinV]

There's a reason that mooring is so cheap, and you've already worked it out. Forget it.

 

[NingNong247]

That would get old very quickly. So much so I would expect you’d go for less than 5 sails before chucking the hobby and bunging the boat on eBay with that mooring setup.

(p.s I wouldn’t entertain that as an idea, even with my wayfarer dinghy.)

When you say you wouldn't entertain it, is that because it's unsafe, or just because it's hassle?

Perhaps I should make myself clearer. This mooring is for the off season. It's a place I can keep the boat when there's no sailing to be done. That doesn't change the fact that I'm going to have to put the mast down at least once while on the water, and put it up at least once when I'm on the water, at the beginning and end of the season. Is that much at least feasible? And if not

The thing with putting it up and down every day was just a thought, since there's no reason I wouldn't be allowed to keep it there in summer as well. Just whether it's worth the hassle/safe.

If it isn't safe to even do it once a year, is it better to put it on a sand bank and do it?

 

[Praxinoscope]

The last thing you will want to do is put the mast up or take it down every time you go for a sail, sounds as if the cheap mooring is only suitable for a mobo.

 

[NingNong247]

The last thing you will want to do is put the mast up or take it down every time you go for a sail, sounds as if the cheap mooring is only suitable for a mobo.

it was recommended to me as a "winter layup option", and there are a few similarly sized sailing boats there with their masts down.

 

[greeny]

I have a Jeanneau Sun 2K at just over 20ft. There is no way I would even think about stepping or dropping the mast on the water unless the water was absolutely flat calm and no passing boat traffic. Even then, the boat will move around with just your movement on deck. Any movement at all will result in the mast swinging from side to side and maybe twist the tabernacle or whatever type of mast base you have, out of the deck causing major damage to the base or base of the mast. I know some people are on u-tube doing it but they are usually in flat calm conditions and tied up on a pontoon with help from others on the pontoon. I wouldn't even attempt it at the beginning and end of season let alone every sailing session. Sailing is supposed to be pleasurable, this would make it extremely stressful and would probably mean you will not even bother to take the boat out. IMHO find another mooring.

 

[srm]

Its perfectly safe to lower or raise the mast while afloat, provided that you are in calm water and the mast is in a tabernacle or has a secure pivot. You will need to make up the appropriate gear, basically an A frame that can be stowed ashore or on the foredeck and extended chain plates so the end of the shrouds, and base of the A frame are in line with the mast pivot. This keeps the mast in line while lifting/lowering. On a 20ft boat the loads will not be excessive. The first time I was involved in raising a mast using the boat's own gear was on an elderly 50 ft yacht with a tall mast. It was lifted using the anchor windlass and tackle. I have lifted/lowered masts on a few other boats since, but the tabernacle is essential, so look for this when selecting a boat.

Edit: Having just seen the post by @greeny perhaps your idea of beaching the boat to keep it steady will be the better option, all my experience has been with heavy boats of around 35 ft plus or catamarans.

 

[NingNong247]

I have a Jeanneau Sun 2K at just over 20ft. There is no way I would even think about stepping or dropping the mast on the water unless the water was absolutely flat calm and no passing boat traffic. Even then, the boat will move around with just your movement on deck. Any movement at all will result in the mast swinging from side to side and maybe twist the tabernacle or whatever type of mast base you have, out of the deck causing major damage to the base or base of the mast. I know some people are on u-tube doing it but they are usually in flat calm conditions and tied up on a pontoon with help from others on the pontoon. I wouldn't even attempt it at the beginning and end of season let alone every sailing session. Sailing is supposed to be pleasurable, this would make it extremely stressful and would probably mean you will not even bother to take the boat out. IMHO find another mooring.

This is what I feared.

What about tied up to a solid bit of quayside? Or maybe as I said in the post, on a sandbank at lowtide? Maybe the sand bank is the best place? I don't have the option of taking it out of the water to do it.

 

[Daydream believer]

If you beach the boat it will lean over & hoisting the mast will be virtually impossible. This is because it will always be at an angle & "A" frames etc will not work as normal.One cannot hold the mast upright where it makes it easier to keep steadier.
I have a 20 ft keel boat- A squib - where the mast drops into a keel base & can be fitted through the deck. Once in place the rigging can be fitted.
It is a 2 man operation to get it off the ground up on to the deck then drop it through the hole. If the boat were on a mooring & rocked whilst the mast was waving in the breeze it would be dangerous.
We tend to lift it on to the boat into the cockpit. Lift it to the upright with one in the cockpit & one on deck. The person on deck then does a single lift with it upright & drops it through the deck, with the one in the cockpit guiding the heel. Once through the hole the heel is located on the base & all is easy from there. With a cabin this would be harder & the rigging would probably have to be loose fitted first.
I would suggest a mooring operation is a no no. I have put the mast up & down a lot of times so have had some experience of this.

 

[johnalison]

We lowered the mast on a 22-footer, just once. It was OK but quite hard work with two of us. With a smaller boat it would only be practicable with a built-in A-frame. There are some boats around so equipped, and it might just make the project feasible.

 

[NingNong247]

If you beach the boat it will lean over & hoisting the mast will be virtually impossible. I have a 20 ft keel boat- A squib - where the mast drops into a keel base & can be fitted through the deck. Once in place the rigging can be fitted. It is a 2 man operation to get it off the ground up on to the deck then drop it through the hole. If the boat were on a mooring & rocked whilst the mast was waving in the breeze it would be dangerous.
We tend to lift it on to the boat into the cockpit. Lift it to the upright with one in the cockpit & one on deck. The person on deck then does a single lift & drops it through the deck with the one in the cockpit guiding the heel. Once through the hole the heel is located on the base & all is easy from there. With a cabin this would be harder & the rigging would probably have to be loose fitted first.
I would suggest a mooring operation is a no no. I have put the mast up & down a lot of times so have had some experience of this.

So where do you do all this, on land?

 

[doug748]

One of these would solve all your worries:


Hunter Minstrel 23

Sadly probably now sold and out of price range anyway.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Has April the 1st come early ?

 

[NingNong247]

Has April the 1st come early ?

What?

 

[PaulRainbow]

What?

Reading your recent threads, one of two things is happening;

1) It's an early April fools joke/s

2) You don't have the faintest idea what you are doing and you'll blow a load of money and be out of sailing in a very short time.

If it's 2, may i suggest that you do something like join a local sailing club, get to know boats, how they work, what they cost, how to maintain them, learn to sail etc etc etc. Most small clubs have members who'll take you out sailing as crew and pass on decades of priceless knowledge.

I accept you'll probably think i'm being an arse, but i'm just telling you how it is. I'm not trying to put you off of sailing, just trying to save you some grief and money.

Every marina and boatyard in the Country has an area known here as "the field of broken dreams", don't add another boat to one

 

[Boathook]

@NingNong247 as as been said in other posts, etc join a local sailing club, help by assisting owners on sailing boats and crew on boats. This will give you a very good idea about sailing boat ownership and what is practicable and possible. Sailing boats are very different from canal boats.
Beaten to it by @PaulRainbow

 

[NingNong247]

Right, so it's just a general "haha, I know more than you". Cool. Enjoy the superiority.

You don't have the faintest idea what you are doing

What tipped you off, all the times I asked beginner questions, or the times I explained that I'm beginner? My fault for not being born with full knowledge, I guess. I apologise.

may i suggest

I'm not interested in your suggestions because of the snarky piss taking, but I'm sure you'll make your suggestions anyway.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Right, so it's just a general "haha, I know more than you". Cool. Enjoy the superiority.




What tipped you off, all the times I asked beginner questions, or the times I explained that I'm beginner? My fault for not being born with full knowledge, I guess. I apologise.




I'm not interested in your suggestions because of the snarky piss taking, but I'm sure you'll make your suggestions anyway.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Right, so it's just a general "haha, I know more than you". Cool. Enjoy the superiority.




What tipped you off, all the times I asked beginner questions, or the times I explained that I'm beginner? My fault for not being born with full knowledge, I guess. I apologise.




I'm not interested in your suggestions because of the snarky piss taking, but I'm sure you'll make your suggestions anyway.

I work on boats for a living.

I live on a boat full time and have done so for several years.

I have bank accounts, contract SIM and all of the other things you'd need.

But i guess you won't want to take any advice.............