MagicIsland
Well-Known Member
Can you step the Mast on a Southerly 105 ? If so does anyone know how long it takes and how easy it is and then to raise it and get the rigging right ?
Southerly 105 Mast Stepping
- Thread starter MagicIsland
- Start date
prv
Well-Known Member
It might help if you explain exactly what you mean by "stepping the mast", as it doesn't seem to match my understanding of the term.
To me, stepping a mast simply means putting it up, whether that be by crane in a big boat, by hand in a small one, or using a tabernacle and gin pole in a medium-sized one. Obviously the answer to the question "can you put up the mast on a Southerly 105" is yes
Pete
To me, stepping a mast simply means putting it up, whether that be by crane in a big boat, by hand in a small one, or using a tabernacle and gin pole in a medium-sized one. Obviously the answer to the question "can you put up the mast on a Southerly 105" is yes
Pete
MagicIsland
Well-Known Member
It might help if you explain exactly what you mean by "stepping the mast", as it doesn't seem to match my understanding of the term.
To me, stepping a mast simply means putting it up, whether that be by crane in a big boat, by hand in a small one, or using a tabernacle and gin pole in a medium-sized one. Obviously the answer to the question "can you put up the mast on a Southerly 105" is yes
Pete
Sorry, was asking if it was possible to take the mast down and raise it again on your own without the need for a crane using a tabernacle and pole ?
thks
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Doubtful as it probably too big and heavy to do without a crane
Cardo
Well-Known Member
Our 105 has the old tabernacle mast. Technically, it should be possible to lower and raise without a crane, but I haven't quite worked out what would be the best way to do it. Maybe borrow a halyard from a neighbouring boat?
William_H
Well-Known Member
Mast lowering
Lots of negatives in responses. However around here many yachts have to lower mast to negotiate under \a 6.5 metre clearance bridges.
So lowering masts is very natural for even really big yachts. i think one of the biggest is 70ft boat with 90 ft mast. There are perhaps several thousand smaller yachts that do similar. yes it is a bit traumatic doing it under way with passing mobos providing waves.
I am not sure how big a 105 is but the process is much the same for all yachts.
Taking the mast down to the poiint of sitting in a crutch is the first stage. This can be enough on a smaller yacht if you can locate the boat so the top of the mast is over a high jetty and you use a step ladder for work on mast top. You need a stable crutch at the transom that is as high as is possible considering bridges to be passed under or to enable you to reach the top by ladder. You need a pole or better pair of poles to force the bottom of the forestay up when using a tackle on the bottomn of the forestay to improve the angle of pull.
(to explain.. If you just had a tackle on the bottom of the forestay when the mast is lowered the forestay and tackle would be near horizontal parallel to the mast so no lifting angle to raise the mast or stop it crashing down. The pole would go from base of mast to the bottom of the forestay almost vertical when mast is down to enable a pull on the tackle to raise the mast.)
2 poles are often used pivotted on mounts on side decks. If you use one pole it must be guyed to keep it vertical.or on centre line. I use 2 spinacker poles. A 4 purchase tackle is usual helped by a winch if necessary.
Secondly on the traverse down the mast must be suported to stop it swinging sideways. Cap shrouds can be pulled tight by 2 check wires or tackles pulling the stay forward at about in line with mast pivot. Common around here on mast head rig boats with cap shrouds square to the mast is chain plate extensions of solid bar or tube stayed forward such that cap shroud pivots in a line the same as the mast pivot so cap shroud stays tight as mast traverses down. It is more tricky on fractioanl rig with cap shroud chain plkates set aft of mast line. I use a cable clamp on each cap shroud which holds the end of a tackle to the gunwhale about 1 metre forward of mast step. These tackles are tighted to keep cap shropud tight as mast goes down.
On a smaller boat in still water you can guide the mast down by a person standing on the deck. Risky on a bigger boat.
Once the mast is down into the crutch the second stage is more difficult which is to remove the mast. You disconnect the mast pivot. Being mindful that mast may over ballance on the transom crutch. ie top falls down bottom kicks up. from there you need lots of man power to lift /slide the mast forward in the crutch until mast base is supported at the bow rail. If you want to work on the mast top you can slide it further forward until mast top is at the crutch. Base is way forward of bow.
Disconnecting of stays will allow the whole mast to be carried ashore or lifted down from deck if on hard.
The opposite of course to raise the mast again.
DSC_1897.jpg (96.1 KB) temp boat.jpeg0003.jpg (23.9 KB) Poleringscropped.jpg (20.8 KB)
These photos show my mast crutch and also the purpose built rings in the side decks for spin poles for mast lowering. A smaller boat.
The other photo (I can't figure out how to remove it from the post) is another way to access top of mast. Not recommended. Actually doing self righting test. It just passed with 40kg up ward force at hounds when horizontal to meet YA requirements for Cat 5 racing.
There is lots of stuff on mast lowering on this forum. Most people use 2 pices of wood in A frame shape for mast crutch. Mine is a 2 level crutch low for towing high for intitial lowering/ raising. Don't be afraid olewill
Lots of negatives in responses. However around here many yachts have to lower mast to negotiate under \a 6.5 metre clearance bridges.
So lowering masts is very natural for even really big yachts. i think one of the biggest is 70ft boat with 90 ft mast. There are perhaps several thousand smaller yachts that do similar. yes it is a bit traumatic doing it under way with passing mobos providing waves.
I am not sure how big a 105 is but the process is much the same for all yachts.
Taking the mast down to the poiint of sitting in a crutch is the first stage. This can be enough on a smaller yacht if you can locate the boat so the top of the mast is over a high jetty and you use a step ladder for work on mast top. You need a stable crutch at the transom that is as high as is possible considering bridges to be passed under or to enable you to reach the top by ladder. You need a pole or better pair of poles to force the bottom of the forestay up when using a tackle on the bottomn of the forestay to improve the angle of pull.
(to explain.. If you just had a tackle on the bottom of the forestay when the mast is lowered the forestay and tackle would be near horizontal parallel to the mast so no lifting angle to raise the mast or stop it crashing down. The pole would go from base of mast to the bottom of the forestay almost vertical when mast is down to enable a pull on the tackle to raise the mast.)
2 poles are often used pivotted on mounts on side decks. If you use one pole it must be guyed to keep it vertical.or on centre line. I use 2 spinacker poles. A 4 purchase tackle is usual helped by a winch if necessary.
Secondly on the traverse down the mast must be suported to stop it swinging sideways. Cap shrouds can be pulled tight by 2 check wires or tackles pulling the stay forward at about in line with mast pivot. Common around here on mast head rig boats with cap shrouds square to the mast is chain plate extensions of solid bar or tube stayed forward such that cap shroud pivots in a line the same as the mast pivot so cap shroud stays tight as mast traverses down. It is more tricky on fractioanl rig with cap shroud chain plkates set aft of mast line. I use a cable clamp on each cap shroud which holds the end of a tackle to the gunwhale about 1 metre forward of mast step. These tackles are tighted to keep cap shropud tight as mast goes down.
On a smaller boat in still water you can guide the mast down by a person standing on the deck. Risky on a bigger boat.
Once the mast is down into the crutch the second stage is more difficult which is to remove the mast. You disconnect the mast pivot. Being mindful that mast may over ballance on the transom crutch. ie top falls down bottom kicks up. from there you need lots of man power to lift /slide the mast forward in the crutch until mast base is supported at the bow rail. If you want to work on the mast top you can slide it further forward until mast top is at the crutch. Base is way forward of bow.
Disconnecting of stays will allow the whole mast to be carried ashore or lifted down from deck if on hard.
The opposite of course to raise the mast again.
DSC_1897.jpg (96.1 KB) temp boat.jpeg0003.jpg (23.9 KB) Poleringscropped.jpg (20.8 KB)
These photos show my mast crutch and also the purpose built rings in the side decks for spin poles for mast lowering. A smaller boat.
The other photo (I can't figure out how to remove it from the post) is another way to access top of mast. Not recommended. Actually doing self righting test. It just passed with 40kg up ward force at hounds when horizontal to meet YA requirements for Cat 5 racing.
There is lots of stuff on mast lowering on this forum. Most people use 2 pices of wood in A frame shape for mast crutch. Mine is a 2 level crutch low for towing high for intitial lowering/ raising. Don't be afraid olewill
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MagicIsland
Well-Known Member
William_H, thanks for the info, we currently have a Mac 26X so used to lowering and raising the mast, from what you have said it sounds like the process is the same on bigger mast's , we love the ability to explore rivers in our current boat, mostley in the autum/spring rather than leave her on a hard standing somewhere, so would like to do the same in our next bigger boat, we like the southerly range and had heard it was possible to raise and lower with out a crane. I will start searching the rest of the forum, thanks again for the encouragement
MagicIsland
Well-Known Member
Cardo, what year is your southerly 105 , do you know if the changed the desin later ?
Tranona
Well-Known Member
With that size of mast regular raising and lowering requires dedicated equipment. A substantial tabernacle and a custom made A frame might make it possible. While it is possible to improvise on smaller boats such as William describes raising a mast your size is a real challenge. Have a look at Broads boats to see how different the mast design is.
The master on my 26 ft is 32 ft long, in a tabernacle and on the limit requiring 3 people to do it safely.
The master on my 26 ft is 32 ft long, in a tabernacle and on the limit requiring 3 people to do it safely.
William_H
Well-Known Member
A bit more info. Mention of the Macgreggor 26 reminds me that while are fractional rig they were fitted with 2 additional side stays. These come froma chain plate on the cabin top raised so that the stay pivots exactly in line with the mast pivot. These additiional stays go up to the base of the spreaders but are very effective in always holding the mast on centre line when traversing down. Well worht fitting for a boat where mast is frequently lowered.
The other system that has gained some populatity on bigger boats with fractional rig uses 2 spin poles. these are attached to side deck fittings typically half way down the cockpit. ie aft of the mast. They attach to apurpose built car that runs up the track in the back of the mast. The car with poles attached is hauled or allowed to run up the mast as the mast comes down. Using a down haul or halyard on the car. The poles always hold the mast on centre line. They also tend to provide a built in crutch when the mast is down. Although the mast will not go down much past about 30 degrees. I think for a tall mast i would have another gin pole at the mast base and tackle to the forestay or halyard. This method is fine for bridges but still needs gear to enable the mast to be completly lowered and slif forward for work on the top. good luck olewill
The other system that has gained some populatity on bigger boats with fractional rig uses 2 spin poles. these are attached to side deck fittings typically half way down the cockpit. ie aft of the mast. They attach to apurpose built car that runs up the track in the back of the mast. The car with poles attached is hauled or allowed to run up the mast as the mast comes down. Using a down haul or halyard on the car. The poles always hold the mast on centre line. They also tend to provide a built in crutch when the mast is down. Although the mast will not go down much past about 30 degrees. I think for a tall mast i would have another gin pole at the mast base and tackle to the forestay or halyard. This method is fine for bridges but still needs gear to enable the mast to be completly lowered and slif forward for work on the top. good luck olewill
Cardo
Well-Known Member
Ours is an early one, 1979. Later 105's don't have the tabernacle, at least not the ones I've met.
The tabernacle on ours would certainly allow the mast to swing back and down, but seeing as it's 40ft long, I don't see how this could be done easily without assistance.
chasroberts
Well-Known Member
Our 105, sail no 35, is I thnk a fairly standard setup. Stepping the mast will almost definitely need a crane. I have had ours up and down many times and would not dream of trying to do it without. I can just about lift one end of the mast when it's down so please think really carefully before attempting it. With a crane and a yard crew, hoiwever the whole thing is simple if a bit nervewracking. Some yards may ask you to do the rigging and they will just lift or lower the mast by crane. It depends on the yard. First time is always the worst but after that it becomes fairly routine: Feel free to pm me if you need any more detailed information.
Chas
Chas
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