My favorite way to step the mast is with the mast in front of the boat, between the bows, boat on the ground (not on wheels or wheels under the bows works too) Attach the forestays loosely if possible and point the bows up a slight hill and into the wind. Tie the trap lines to the front beam so that the mast can only pivot on one direction, front to back. Walk the mast up and at some point gravity takes over. Once the mast is up gravity and wind should keep it there, but a helper can hold the halyard at the back of the boat to keep the mast back. Then attach the shrouds. My HT mast is pretty long and I can raise it easily this way solo.

On a lighter weight boat, the boat will want to slide, so its helpful to have someone sit on the boat.

Most of the time you can find someone walking by and say, hey, can you sit on that? And then hold this (the halyard)

Make sure you have the mast step pin in before starting.


Taking the mast down is the reverse, but having someone lower the mast to you using the halyard makes it easier, after about 45deg's its all you, the halyard wont do anything.


The key is having the trap lines tied off to a short piece of line in the beams, then you are only dealing with one plane, the mast cant wiggle side to side and it takes less muscle, you are only pushing in one direction.

Bill