stepping a mast in a tabernacle

[tyce]

hi
im wondering the best way to lift my mast, it has a tabernacle arrangement, but is a bit heavy to swing up by hand, so is it best to put it in the tabenacle and use the crane to pull on a strop below the spreaders or is it easier to just lift it like a normal mast.
the boat is a hunter horizon 272, anyone any experience on such matters

 

[PaulR]

hi-we had a hunter 272 with tabernacle mast which we lowered and raised - in some ways going up was easier than bringing it down- with the mast in the tabernacle we supported it in the cockpit on a step ladder and used the forestay with an extension rope to pull it up whilst 2 of us lifted it and pushed it up- not something to be done on a windy day but all worked ok - key thing is to ensure it goes up remaining at all times aligned fore and aft- it mustn't wobble sideways at all- good luck

 

[William_H]

Here in Perth Oz we have many large yachts (70ft) who regularly lower and raise their mast on the run for bridges. One guy I know with a 40 footer does it single handed without stopping. You just have to get organised. You can do it as PaulR says or improve your pulling (lifting) power by using a jib ( Ithink that is what you would call it as in crane jib) from the base of the mast to the end of the forestay with a tackle (4 purchase) from the end of the forestay and jib to the bow. If you don't use a jib you will find initially the forestay is near paralell to the mast and you are more pulling the mast forward than up. The jib improves tha angle of pull.
When you start to raise the mast this jib will be vertical and will need to be stayed to keep it vetrtical. There will be quite a lot of load on the tackle (use a winch) and a lot of compression on the jib. As the mast moves toward vertical the load gets less. So it is an enormous help to get people to lift the mast as far as possible. Use a crutch as high as possible to start from ie about 2.5 metres above the transom. Most here use 2 spinnacker poles pivotting on rings set on the side deck abeam the mast as a jib it is stronger and stable.
Some other tricks are to use a nearby high jetty (low tide) if you are in the water point the boat stern to the jetty or stand on a truck or other boat if you are on land. As PaulR says don't let the mast swing sideways. There are various staying tricks to avoid this if you do it underway however you should be OK with a man each side standing on the cabin top.
Now if you use the crane I dont think it matters so much where it is lifteed from but if you put it in the tabernacle first then don't let the crane get the mast out of alignment fore and aft. If you lift the mast then try to get the mast into the tabernacle it may be difficult getting it vertical and lined up.
I have only seen one mast (keel stepped) put in here by crane (very expensive) that was on a 60 ft 400kg mast and it didn't seem too much drama I think in a case like yours I would prefer to get some friends and do it my own way slowly. In my case (27ft mast) we have done it so often it is a piece of cake.(even single handed or under way) The difficult part is to get the base of the mast engaged in the tabernacle while horozontal but a high crutch will make it easier.( put the mast up into the crutch with the base near the pulpit then slide the mast aft lifting from the cockpit and pressing down at the base until the tabernacle is engaged.) Just try it you will find it is easy. PM me iff you want more story good luck will

 

[charles_reed]

Use the genoa halyard to the forestay attachment but put a wishbone in beween mast and attachment point, when starting the lift. The idea is to keep the halyard as close to 90 degrees to the mast as you can - if less than 60 it's crippled.

 

[Guest]

Whats problem ????

Regularly stepped / unstepped mast on 23ft with my young son, bigger boats with 2 helpers.

In Tabernacle - insert top bolt so that mast can now pivot. Connect aft most baby stays slack ..... Length of rope made fast to forestay just above shackle connection for stem. Make sure fore stay turnbuckle / bottle screw is slacked right off.

Now one guy "walks" mast up in cockpit. Other 2 on coachroof assisting. They then take over and start walking mast up taking care to not have it wobble too much side to side. Cockpit man now moves forward, checks that side baby stays are laying staright and flat - not kinked etc.
He takes line on forestay through stem roller and puts weight on this to assist 'lifters'. Once mast gets up to an angle the forestay will start to have more effect and can be used to pull mast up rest of way .... MAKE SURE that side babay stays do not flop and twist - making them lock kinked. Once mast is nearing verticakl these stays will help to control the side to side of the mast. Get the forestay connected and wind it up a few turns till most slack is out. Now do same to side baby stays. The mast in calm weather now should stand on its own. If its a bit windy - shouldn't really do this in windy weather !!!! 2 guys stay at mast and keep steady hands on it .... other guy runs round connecting all stays. Once all connected then wind them up till slack is JUST out.

Using a halyard you now make sure it is clear of all and measure down to each side .... adjusting stays till measurement is same. Once all in order - wind up all turnbuckles / bottlescrews to required tension.

Final check on measurement each side to ensure mast is not to one side etc.

A trick used by some ... is to have main cap / side shroud chainplates extended to same level as mast pivot bolt - that way they can be connected and only slacked a little from final position .... aiding the raising of mast. Plus the use of an A'frame or pole on mast front to increase the forestay angle of leverage .....

Once done - it all falls into place .... careful thought and agreement on job for each before lifting .... agree who shouts and who listens ..... !!!

 

[steveallan]

I always step/unstep my tabernacle mounted masts (ketch rig) there is lots of info on how to do it in past issues of PBO etc.

If I was not 100% confident I would use a crane but would lift it like a normal mast

Steve