Okay, I'm entirely new to this forum and new to cat-sailing in general. I purchased a Nacra 5.0 a couple of months ago. I've gone through the rigamorole to get the title transfered for the boat and I've gotten the trailer back in safe, working order. I am embarrassed to say that it has only been on the water twice since its purchase <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

But, I have one huge problem. The mast on this boat is Humongous. This boat replaced a little FJ that had a comparatively tiny mast that I could raise solo, by hand with no problems. Now, obviously I can't expect that ease with my current rig, but it is still a giant hassle.

I've been trying a variety of handwinch-based ideas. But, no matter what, I still end up having a minimum of two people helping me keep the mast from swaying from left to right as I yank it up, with a winch. That rotating mast seems to make this swinging very easy and very dangerous. I can raise it vertically without too much trouble...if I can keep it from swaying as much as it wants to.

I know, there's probably some old cat-sailing salt answer that a newbie like me wouldn't think of, but could you enlighten me to it please. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

A 5.0 mast difficult to raise? I'm not touching this reply.

Ya, I know, it's probably pale in comparison to ya'lls 6.0s and so forth, but I'm just looking for a little advice here, so try not to knock the newbie too much, please.

Raise it from the back of the boat and attach the sidestays to the hulls, lengthen one sidestay a little to help fix the forestay later (less tension). When the mast is vertical the stay stays will be taught and prevent any swinging from side to side. With the captive mast foot arrangement on the nacra 5.0 you should be able to do this singlehandedly. The trick then is to get off the trampoline taking with you the forestay and fix it to the bridles. People use various tricks here. One is to have a piece of line fixed to the forestay and run this line through a shackle or loop on the bridle and run back to the tramp. When the mast is raised and you are holding it with one arm you pull on this line and pull the forestay relatively taught. Some slack with come back in the side stays but that isn't a problem, the mast may swing a little bit about. The mast is not secure and you can step of the tramp (holding the line) and go to the forestay/bridles. Some people make a foot loop in the line and place their foot in it to pull the forestay to the bridles and hook up the shackle. When this is done they make to the lengthen sidestay and fix that. A trick here is to hook up your mainsheet system to a trapeze line and set the traveller to one side and pull hard on the mainsheet. The forestay and hulls will flex, producing extra slack in the sidestay you want to shorten, making it easier to do so. Fix the sidestay to the right hole and then release the mainsheet. The mast is now standing on the boat and the stays are all tight.

Ready to go sailing !

Wouter

Mast raising is usually a mixture of technique, confidence and time on task.
Do a search on this site as we have discussed many times and I am sure someone with that particular boat will chime in here for you.
We all know that as a newbie to the bigger cat masts it seems daunting.

Standard practice seems to be secure/locate the mast base to the pin, have both sidestays connected and a rope tied to the forestay or a trapeze and run it through the whiskers/front beam fitting.
Walk the mast up from behind the cat and pull on the forestay rope to take the weight as you go. This means you control any sway. I usually have an upturned bucket behind the rear beam so I can step up onto the tramp and keep the momentum going. Once the mast is vertical keep tension on the rope while you go forward to tie it off or shackle.

SAFETY FIRST! Be careful of overhead power lines and be sure not to drop it on anyone's head! If you should drop it, no damage is likely to occur except to a person.

The problem is a matter of balance and technique not massive weight. Be sure the tramp is clear so you won't trip; check that the shrouds don't catch on anything.

Joee,

I raise the mast on my ARC21 completely solo, start to finish using a gin pole. It is a little hassle but it is very safe. I'll post some pics and try to answer your questions.

Welcome to cat sailing. If you tow your boat facing backward on the trailer it will make raising the mast easier because of the angle. I tie a line on the forestay and go through a ring that connects the bridle wires continuing to a cleat on the main beam. Standing on the tramp I hold the line, raise the mast to my shoulder and take up the slack. Then take a slight squat and lift the mast, clean and jerk style. Take up the additional slack and step on the line to cleat off. I then go to the front and attatch the forestay. Hope this helps.

I agree with Steve, tow your boat backwards (sterns first). If you're solo this this by far the easiest and quickest. Send me a PM and I will send you a set of photos Steve took of me raising and securing my Mystere 5.0 mast, all up in about 5-10 minutes after parking.

I have a Nacra 5.0 and usually raise the mast with the help of one person to connect the forestay. What everyone has said is great advice. I have seen people bring a step ladder to sit the top of the mast on to make it a little easier. Also make sure you are rotating the mast 90deg while raising otherwise that would be a problem/cause damage to your mast step.

Okay, so all the advice I'm getting here boils down to (essentially) just walking the mast up like every other trailerable boat. Have some kind of step to get up on the tramp and avoid electric wires. Oh, in response to Tikipete, there are warning all over the mast about power lines and half of the little instruction manual I have (which doesn't really help) is dedicated to risk of electrocution. I kind of like the idea of putting a cleat of some sort on the main beam so it'll make the jump from the tramp to the ground (to attach forestay to the bridles) less dramatic and less hazardous.

I thank all of you, I wasn't sure what kind of reception I'd get as a "stranger" on this board, but I was astonished at the replies.

Oh ya, and this board's "Nacra 5.0 vs. Hobie 16" thread helped push me to the craft I now have.

Don't ry walking the mast up from the ground, the step up onto the tramp is very awkward.
position your trailer behind the boat with the hitch under the middle of the back beam, this means that the mast can be propped up on the trailer mast support and whilst the base is secured to the ball on the front beam. With the mast a quarter of the way up like this, it is fairly straight foward to stand on the tramp with your back foot on the rear beam and lift the mast upright. [Check shouds are connected first!]

Stepping your mast may seem hard, lowering your mast can be DANGEROUS.

Here's a tip I never hear mentioned. Perhaps I'm the only idiot who ever forgets this but here goes...

After sailing and you put your boat back on the trailer, be SURE you tie the boat to the trailer before you drop the mast. It's quite a thrill to drop that mast onto your shoulder and, getting ready to lay it down, having the entire boat tip up as the mast weight shifts aft. Now you're standing on a heavily tilted tramp and no easy way to correct your mistake. Everyone around you will have scattered to avoid the wildly tilting boat and mast, you're having your back broken by the weight of the falling mast, and now you have to groan out a "Little help here, please" while your friends start cracking up at the idiot sailor who forgot to tie the boat.

I have this little diddy I always say just before I rock the mast back, "Pin, power, ties." That is, hinge pin (never forget that, either!), power line check, and scan for boat tie down lines.

Joee: Keep us posted.

David: I did that last Saturday, right after Jennifer asked me if I needed help! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I may just start an "idiot" thread composed of all the screw-ups I've made.

I've forgotten the straps while single handedly winching my mast into position using a winch on my trailer mast support. Everything was going just great until the boat lurched forward on the trailer 5 feet and the mast crashed down on my fence (fortunately avoiding any mast or boat damage...the fence didn't fair so well).

Hey Pete - There's a thread with potential!!!!! Could make for some fun reading.....you know we've all done some genuinely bone-headed things on the water.

Pete:

Ready for your idiot thread. I did not tie front of boat down on Hobie 17. I swap beachwheels between boats and had them tied to front of Mystere 4.3. Well the 17 lifted half have to Dike and as I saw it in rear view mirror it was at about a 45 degree angle. When I slowed down it caught the asphalt. OUCH!! See attached. We learn things the hard way sometimes!!!

Doug

Pete,
I believe I would have a part in there with you, speaking of power lines and all <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

That's so scarey I forget about it some times!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />