Stepping mast - shrouds connected or loose

[wfe1947]

Mast is off the boat (18 foot Leisure 18) over winter. Last time that I stepped the mast, the shrouds were left connected at the deck. This caused a problem with the top shroud t piece location in the mast slots.
Would it be better not to have the shrouds connected to the deck mounting and rely on the furler plus someone holding the mast to steady it while the four shouds are connected?

 

[Wansworth]

Mast is off the boat (18 foot Leisure 18) over winter. Last time that I stepped the mast, the shrouds were left connected at the deck. This caused a problem with the top shroud t piece location in the mast slots.
Would it be better not to have the shrouds connected to the deck mounting and rely on the furler plus someone holding the mast to steady it while the four shouds are connected?

Yes

 

[Wansworth]

Have newsplit pins and coter pins ready and correct tools,thee would be a good safe number of helpers

 

[Poignard]

Once you have the forestay and the two aftermost shrouds connected you can relax and take your time setting it all up

 

[Wansworth]

Number of times putting up masts owners have offered bent pins or has misslaid important bits

 

[ProDave]

Not familiar with the Leisure 18, but we regularly step the Leisure 17 mast with the forward shrouds removed and the aft shrouds just loosened a bit.

 

[lustyd]

On my Viv 20 I lifted the mast by hand until vertical then secured in the tabernacle. Next I would use lengths of cord to quickly secure each bit of standing rigging. Once all connected I would move to the bottle screws at my leisure, but the cord was much quicker to connect and tie off and could be used to pre-tension a little which makes it easier to get a bottle screw on sometimes. I could happily do this process while afloat, the important part being to have a structure on which to rest the mast at the stern.

 

[William_H]

On my fractional rig 21 I always leave rigging fixed with just the forestay disconnected. But your rig is different. Mast head. I would leave shrouds connected but loose.
However if you have problems with those tee connectors into the mast at the top I would suggest some sort of string or bungy arrangement to hold the shroud in line with the mast until it is vertical. This should mean that once mast is up it will be secured by shrouds and back stay. You will still need helper to hold mast central as it traverses up. I assume you have a hinge type mast base connection. If not then some difficulties.
I would advocate a gin pole and tackle on forestay to actually raise the mast. As said a decent high support at the transom will help enormously. treat it like it was a much bigger mast and you will find it easy. ol'will

 

[Refueler]

I only disconnect those stays / shrouds that prevent lowering - rest I leave connected but slackened a known number of turns. With care when raising - I can avoid those twists and lock-ups of turnbuckles ....
I have to negotiate 3 bridges to get out of river to harbour ... so this is something that I have 'evolved' along with the A Frame.

Of course I assume that OP is talking about a deck-stepped mast as a keel stepped would mean stays / shrouds must be disconnected ... plus mast will stay upright once stepped.

 

[lustyd]

With care when raising - I can avoid those twists and lock-ups of turnbuckles

A bit of bungee cord helps here, tie them to the guard wire and they won't have problems

 

[Refueler]

A bit of bungee cord helps here, tie them to the guard wire and they won't have problems

I used to do that ...... but then for some strange reason stopped ... and only ever had one mishap in all the subsequent years .... having dropped mast in harbour ... then proceeded to home mooring via the bridges ... I went to raise mast ...

I use my foredeck windlass ... and kept winching ..... what I failed to notice at start - one of the mooring lines was on top of one stay .... I now have a slightly elongated stay slot one side of mast head !! Luckily it has no effect on stay as they are fastened to the actual mast head fitting slotted into the mast... stay passes through the slot.

 

[William_H]

Yes on my rig it is a concern getting toggles twisted. I at one stage got a twist and bent slightly the bottom threaded part of toggle on cap shroud. Perhaps 10 degrees bend which I ignored. Much later after much sailing that threaded part broke apart fatigue at the bend. A bit alarming fortunately without loss of mast. In fact I got back under sail to mooring, raced home found a replacement. (I had replaced all trunscrews some years before.) Thought after 30 years they should be replaced, but relatively new one let go. Anyway still made the race start. But yes I then replaced all 4 bottom LH thread parts. Moral of the story watch those toggles as mast goes up. ol'will