I can understand that if you store the boat with the mast up you want to minimize the play and possible wear. I don't have the luxury of leaving the mast up so I am more concerned with raising and lowering it. There used to be a solo righting device that lengthened one shroud to allow the boat to start coming over more easily. Part of that rig was a device to tie the mast in the socket so it wouldn't come out when the shroud was lengthened. That might be something you want to consider.

I find that using the halyard to pull the bridle up makes it easier to get the forestay in a lower position than a crew man can reach. He has to pull down the forestay, hold up the bridle and fumble with a pin while you are leaning into the mast. The suggestion to put logs under the rear of the hulls would probably work but isn't practical for me since I step the mast while the boat is on the trailer.

Howard