I have an 18' Nacra 5.5 uni. Fantastic boat, but basically requires two people to set up. I am leaving Utah for Providence, RI, and am considering selling the boat.

When I get a replacement cat, I'm hoping for something that can be easily set up by one person. Particularly, something with a small enough (or light enough) mast that 1-person mounting isn't a problem. Also, ideally something easy to find used.

Any recommendations? How are the hobie 16's? Thanks!

Hobie 16s are pretty easy to set up with one person. The mast can be lifted into place by someone with moderate strength.

I can do my carbon A-class mast alone no problem (tie the forestay lashings maximally slack and when you raise the mast it will have so much rake it will just stay up by itself; tie the trapeze lines to the main beam for extra safety). But I prefer to do it with someone else.

I did a race called the Space Coast 45 with Eric Arbogast on his ARC 21. When we got to the launch spot, I asked him what he wanted me to do. I was shocked when he said just hang out, I want to set it up myself. So I just stepped back and watched as he rigged this "Two Person" boat by himself in very short order.

He fabricated a "Gin Pole" according to ARC specs. They sell them and have an example of one on their website: www.aquarius-sail.com.

We had a great race. The weather was perfect. We were running second most of the day but ended up 4th.

Lots of places in RI for mast up catamaran storage, you raise the mast once and leave it up for the season.

Sail Newport is a great spot, mast up, secure storage.

If you get an Acat, Bristol YC has mast up storage on the lawn for A's.

Bill

A-cat masts are pretty easy one person stepping.

A Class, F16

Add a continuous type spinnaker halyard to almost any beach cat and you can raise the mast alone. Rig the mast either resting on rear beam or have a rear support, even just a step ladder behind the boat. Tie off the head end of the spinnaker halyard to the bridle/forestay attachment point, raise the mast, tighten and cleat the halyard. Now you can walk around the front and pin your forestay.

Oh yeah, you can now fly a spinnaker off that mast raising device also :-)

Moving to RI? I guess you won't get to try my Taipan this at Bear Lake this summer--not a hard mast to raise alone.

For an easy to raise mast, A-Class or Wave. The A-Class is a light easy to handle catamaran mast. The only mast easier to raise than a Wave is maybe a Sunfish.

You can raise your Uni mast alone, if you do it A-Class style.

* Take the boat off the trailer
* Set the mast up to raise from the front
* Tie the Forestays to the hull there should be about 1-1.5 ft between the forestay and the hull
* Tie the traplines to the front crossbeam. They should be just loose enough to raise the mast.
* Go to the tip of the mast and walk it up
* Use the traplines to tighten everything up

The first couple of times you try this have a couple of people standing by, in case something goes wrong. Compared to an A-Class the Uni mast is heavy and will take muscle to control.

A Uni with a carbon mast is a nice and light option. First time I setup it almost went up on its own. This is in contrast to my H17 and H16. Either of those boat may be a big letdown to you after sailing a Uni.

Sail fast, Tom G

I used to do my TheMightyHobie18 then H20 by myself at times. Ya need to keep in shape though. But hey a little excercize doesn't hurt. Otherwise a gin pole works wonders, thats what I use to raise my 36' Stiletto mast.

Clayton

You Sir, are an animal!!

Without a doubt an all carbon Alpha Omega F14 that only weighs 75kg all up sailing weight, with a carbon mast that only weighs 8kg has to be the easiest cat to rig, derig and sail single handed that there is, and it competes with the likes of F18’s, F16’s, A class, 5.8 NACRA’s etc, head to head.

The gin pole is the key. you can raise any mast solo once you see how it works. Find the boat that you want to sail and then build a gin pole to fit. I will never muscle up a mast again unless it is absolutly imperative. The system I use takesa about 3 minutes and is very safe to me and bystanders.

Well I did grow up on a farm... Oh, you said I "am" a animal.. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Clayton

I raise my 5.2 mast all the time alone but it sure is nice to have help.