Stepping a mast - how hard to pull?

[Cappen Boidseye]

Yesterday I stepped the mast on my boat, using a 10 foot jin pole sort of arrangement and a handy person winding my 2000 lb winch attached to my Shogun towbar. The task went really well, better than I thought. However, I would like to be able to do the same but using a winch attached to my bow fitting running up to the top of the 10 foot jin pole. As the winch is very low geared and being wound by somebody else I have no idea how much load was on it, I have a 27 foot boat, the mast is a Proctor mast and around 9 metres long (ish). There seemed to be quite a lot of weight on it to start with. I would like to use a block and tackle instead of the bulky winch which is too large to fit on the bow fitting. Has anyone got an idea of how large (capacity) a block and tackle should be used? and where to get one from? looking online to order it seems I need to import from Germany or the U.S. as nobody in the UK seems to seel the things.

 

[prv]

Can't answer exactly (or rather, can't be bothered to do the maths, but maybe someone will), but to raise our 28' wooden mast I simply used the jib halyard, a two-part purchase, and didn't have to haul especially hard.

Pete

 

[VicS]

Yesterday I stepped the mast on my boat, using a 10 foot jin pole sort of arrangement and a handy person winding my 2000 lb winch attached to my Shogun towbar. The task went really well, better than I thought. However, I would like to be able to do the same but using a winch attached to my bow fitting running up to the top of the 10 foot jin pole. As the winch is very low geared and being wound by somebody else I have no idea how much load was on it, I have a 27 foot boat, the mast is a Proctor mast and around 9 metres long (ish). There seemed to be quite a lot of weight on it to start with. I would like to use a block and tackle instead of the bulky winch which is too large to fit on the bow fitting. Has anyone got an idea of how large (capacity) a block and tackle should be used? and where to get one from? looking online to order it seems I need to import from Germany or the U.S. as nobody in the UK seems to seel the things.

I use the mainsheet tackle.
Smaller boat admittedly but a lighter tackle . I'd expect the heavier tackle on a larger boat to be adequate.

The secret it to raise the mast on a support at the stern as high as possible in order to reduce the initial load.
Be sure about the integrity of the mast step and its fastenings as you are putting a tremendous shear load on them which they may not be designed to withstand.

 

[davidpbo]

24ftr, 10metre fairly heavy section Z Spars mast poled off the front.

I use a pulleys and rope, 3 sheeves?(wheels) to each block so quite a lot of mechinal advantage. I have a sampson post just behind the forestay fitting on the bow and attach one of the pulley blocks to that, t'other attaches to the end of the pole thence to gib, spinacker and spi pole lift halyard (belt & braces) temporary lateral stays (Important IMHO) in the form of ratchet straps to top of pole and mast as far up as I can reach.

I take the rope from the lower pulley block back to a gib sheet winch but probably don't need to.

I can stop at any time, cleat the rope off and all has so far stayed where it was whilst I sort any snags out.

 

[Cappen Boidseye]

Hmmm, hadn't thought about the strength of the tabernacle, hefty casting with four hefty bolts through the roof of the cabin with a wooden pillar below. At least it worked and the bolt through the bottom of the mast and tabernacle held. I had the two genoa halyards roped onto wooden handrails (with some slack) to stop the mast flopping sideways too far, I steadied the mast (which I could just lift with my shoulder under it) to stop any sideways movement, another person steadied the jin pole which had a foot made to sit tightly around the mast near the foot. The winch was wound slowly, there were no scary sideways movements apart from when a shroud caught on something in the early stages of the lift. I was pleasently surprised how well it went, but I take on board what you say about the strain on the tabernacle. I think I will still search for a three way sheeve block and tackle to give me a way of dropping the mast but for routine droppage I will stick with the boatyard craneage for safety and peace of mind. Anyone know of a good block and tackle supplier in the UK?

 

[rwoofer]

I hoist the 9m mast of my Jeanneau 2000 with the main sheet, which is only about 6to1. No problems so far.

 

[Davegriff]

I do our 29ft mast with 10mm braid on braid from a 10ft gin pole through a single block shackled to the stemhead fitting and back through the genoa track car block and thus to two turns around the genoa winch. Even then, only need to use the winch handle for the 'heavy bit' when mast drops below about 45'. Masts up to circa 30ft aren't all that heavy.

 

[Lakesailor]

Run the line back under the bow roller and then to a winch. With the winch handle you should get plenty of mechanical advantage. If you have a mast-mounted winch, even better.

 

[William_H]

Agree with Phil. Most people around here use a 4 purchase tackle. This is then taken back to a genoa winch for the hard part. Do not use more than 4 purchase because you end up witha lot more rope, the friction in the system becomes much worse and using the winch makes it quicker /easier when the load is not high. I use a 3 purchase tackle to a halliard winch on cabin top.
As said the load is huge when the mast is near horizontal. You can aleviate this by having a crutch at the stern which is as high as you can lift the mast into or out of. I drop the mast into a high crutch then disconnect the base then slide the mast forward till the mast base is at the bow rail then drop the top of the mast down from the high crutch. or opposite way around for raising.
On a mast as you describe you will having serious loads when the mast is lower than 45 degrees. You will need the winch on 4 purchase tackle.
Now a week ago I bought the little boat home. I set up the mast lowering gear all purpose built. I use 2 spin poles for the Gin pole. Having done it all perhaps 50 times before I was quite careless. Got it down almost to the crutch when I discovered I had forgotten to attach the spin poles at the bottom of the forestay. Did not try to stop it but just guided the mast into the (high) crutch in its rapid decent. A bit embarrassing. Fortunately 27ft quite light tapered mast. Just be more creful than I was. good luck olewill

As a matter of interest. Purpose built gear for mast lowering.... 2 rings mounted on the side decks to take spin pole ends. A 3 purchase tackle with a ring attached at one end for the spin poles to attach. The tackle attaches to the jib foot snap shackle. A high field lever to enable quick release of forestay. A s/ steel hook attached to the forestay near the bottom eye for attachment of the tackle. (keeps the eye free for attachment of the high field lever.) lastly a crutch that has a centre pole inside the base pole (extension) which clamped to the stern rail horizontal and sitting on the rudder pivot. The base pole has a hook welded to the side of it for low mast transport which the extension pole has a U shape in the top that is about 2 metres above the cockpit sole. The mast is lifted by hand from the top crutch to the low crutch. more details if anyone wants olewill