Mast Stepping

[CES]

I'm about to step the mast on my 23Ft motorsailer, its about 7m in length, and fitted on a plate with a pin, which I assume hinges. Would any one know if this is a job two people and some carefully placed ropes can achieve safely. There are other boats in the yard quite close to mine, so I don't want to take any chances!!

 

[WayneS]

I used to do this on my 22ft but there are some catches.

Every single shroud, halyard and piece of string with catch on every thing it can, ending up with you holding the mast at 45deg, trying to stretch your leg to unhook the shroud that that has caught around the tiller....

Best you have someone there who can run around and untangle/unkink/unhook as required. The fact that they are there means that they will not be needed but I can assure you, the first time you try to do it without and assistant you will see what I mean.

Cheers
Wayne

 

[ChrisE]

I'm assuming that you are in a boatyard, you might like to check as whether their insurance will allow you to do this, some certainly dont'.

 

[VicS]

Although a bit bigger than my mast i would say yes.

I now do mine single handed, although I usually try to get someone else to be on hand in case things go wrong, ie shrouds getting caiught on something. I do it with the aid of large wooden A frame. The forestay and main sheet attatch to the apex while its carpet padded feet rest up against a convenient beam across the cabin top on which the mast sits. The main sheet tackle takes all the effort out of raising it and can also be cleated off if necessary to pause. Because the shroud attachment points are on the deck, which is 40 cm or so lower than the cabin top, the setup is not laterally stable so a hand is required just to steady it in that direction. I avoid doing it on a windy day though.

I attach all the shrouds and back stays first but I "stand up" all the rigging screws using light shock cord attached to the guard rails. That is to stop them snagging in the U bolts on the way up.

The first part of "the lift is the most difficult so it is necessary to start from a reasonably high position. I have a wooden support (that supports the mast during the winter) but someone's shoulders would be ideal.

Remember that there is a big shear load on the screws fastening the mast step to the deck in the initial stages so you must be absolutely sure or their integrity.

Make sure all helpers know what they have to do in advance. I dropped mine one year before I made the A frame as a result of expecting a helper, who had a similar sized boat, to know what to do. That is really why I made the A Frame.

I always make sure helpers are standing clear, as far as possible, while I am actually raising the mast just in case things go seriously wrong. A mast landing on someones head could land you in deep shite.

Without the A frame the difficult bit is early on in the lift as the person raising the mast has to step up from the cockpit to the cabin top. Two people are necessary there and with a motot sailer if that means stepping up onto a wheel house top it will be an even bigger hurdle.

You will need a bit of space, probably half the length of the mast, behind you so if there is another boat or other obstrucion closer than that it makes things difficult.

It is a lot easier to get the yard to do it with their mast raising derrick but I still often do it myself despite the fact that they do not charge.

I have done it with just SWMBO helping but that is not advisable and I have even done it afloat (once) with just one helper.

Make sure you think things through in advance and have all the standing and running rigging sorted out beforehand and instruct all helpers as well.

Headsail furlers are bit of a pain even with a crane doing the lift!


Hope this helps and has not overlapped to many other replies during slow and interupted typing.

 

[CES]

Many thanks, very useful stuff!!