Catman, I was not man-bashing. I just said that men don't like to ask other men for help, don't like to bother with using mechanical devices to help raise their masts, and have a tendency to get boats that are maybe bigger than they can physically handle. Women, on the other hand, tend to recognize their physical limitations and ARE willing to ask for help, use mechanical advantage, and get boats that fit their size and weight and strength level.

And, Dave, obviously, men are happy to help both women and other men who need help. It's just that many men, at least in my experience, do not like to ask and do not want to even give the appearance of needing help. They would rather stop sailing.

Okay, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's just my own stubborn, macho-man husband, who has always refused to ask for help even with back problems, neck problems and rotator-cuff problems in his shoulder. He doesn't even want anybody to know he has any problems. I don't have to bash men -- they do a fine job of bashing themselves, at least physically.