Trailering a First 21.7

[pollard_mike]

Hi all, Does anyone know where I can get a trailer modified to suit a first 21.7 in South Ireland. Also when we initially rigged the boat it took 3 men and a forklift to get the mast up. This kind of defeats the purpose of a trailer sailer. Has anybody got any ideas.

 

[Lakesailor]

I found this quote on a Beneteau owners site
[ QUOTE ]
If the clock could be turned back, would Gerry Knight buy again? Yes, definitely. This is a great starter boat for the sailor who has a problem getting a regular crew. It can be very easily sailed single handed. It points very well and the mast can be raised and lowered without help

[/ QUOTE ]
Refering to a 21.
Whole site Here

 

[exapp]

Sell your Beneteau and buy a Delphia or Sportina...put the mast up by yourself......

 

[SilverBreeze]

Any of the south coast boatyards should be able to modify your trailer to suit your boat.

One caution: don't let them weld or grind the trailer bits if the boat is within spark fly distance, the sparks will melt into the gelcoat!

 

[moondancer]

No connection to these companies other than we use them:

- Compass do a good telescopic mast rasining/lowering a-frame for around 120 gbp.
- We find RM Trailers very good. They will need line drawings.

 

[davidwf]

See Tech notes on mast raising setup you can retrofit the tabernacle and buy the bits to allow you to raise and lower the mast. I'm assuming you havn't got this kit yet.

Also on the web site are details of trailer measurements etc.

 

[Lakesailor]

I used to do mine like that. In fact I led the line under the bow roller and back to the mast and used the halyard winch. The pole had a tab to bolt the furling gear to so that I could put it all up as a "Kit"

Ready to start (or just finished, depending on what you're doing)

Halfway up

My mast didn't skew off sideways as the post had a yoke which bolted to the pivot bolt. Also having the line leading back to the mast winch meant that I had hold of the mast as I pulled it up. It was very stable. I got down off the boat to takes these pics.

 

[William_H]

Lake sailor has given you some clues to mast raising.
First you must have a suitable hinged tabernacle. If it is a keel stepped mast PM me for description of fitting a hinge above the deck.
You will find the mast raiing much easier if you have a quite high 2metre mast suport at the stern. You will need a low support for towing. First lift the mast up into the high support. Then slide the mast aft from towing position until the foot attaches to the tabernacle. this is easier with 2 people. but OK with one.
Next use a gin pole like Lakesailor except 2 poles spinnacker poles are good support the poles sideways. I have 2 rings welded to a flate plate mounted on deck aprox abeam the mast base near the gunwhales for the beak of the poles to attach to. (this position is determined by the length of the poles such that the beaks of the 2 poles come together at the forestay attachment when layed horozontal)
You will need a 3 or 4 part purchase of raope from the bottom of the forestay to the bow and back to a halyard or sheet winch. The load is heavy until the mast approaches vertical when you can pull by hand. When lowering look out for the load increasing as the mast comes down.
The sideways support of the mast is critical. If on the trailer it is not so difficult. You need a helper or can do it yourself support the mast by standing on the cabin top.
Here in Perth we do this often with really big masts while underway to go under bridges. You have to stay the mast sideways when on the water due to wake from other boats.
I use the forestay to hoist the mast although many use a halyard which leaves the forestay free to be attached. I have fitted a high field lever on a fractional rig to easily attach forestay then quickly apply tension.
Just have helpers when you first lower the mast and raise it again. With tyhe right gear and a little help you can do it easily. good luck olewill

 

[graham]

Lake sailors method obviously works well for him but on most boats lateral support for the mast is needed to avoid damage to the base of the mast.The pivot point for temporary side stays must be exactly in line with the pivot point of the mast or the wires will be slack until the mast is fully raised.

I use exactly the same method as Lake Sailor but rig temporary rope side stays to keep the mast in line.The rope stays are led back to the sheet winches and the rope pulling the mast up is lead to a deck mounted halyard winch.

This involves slackening the side supports an inch then winching up a bit further each time.

I am looking to fit some means of attatching the temporary side stays higher up in line with the pivot then it would be a doddle with only one rope to handle.

 

[StugeronSteve]

I fully agree about the side supports ("A" frame). The Dehler 25 had an excellent system, which used the spinnaker pole with two cables running out to anchorages either side of the tabernacle. Jury rigged lines out to toe rails would be equally effective.

I know of one owner who was raising the mast single handed (easily accomplished) and forgot to fit the stabilisers. A gust of wind hit the mast, at the midway point of the lift, it skewed and ripped the tabernacle out of the coach roof.