| Mast stepping #245414 03/11/12 06:00 AM 03/11/12 06:00 AM | Mac m OP
Unregistered
| Mac m OP
Unregistered | Just bought a Viper a few weeks ago and have a question about stepping the mast solo. Any tricks to doing this? My main concern is how to keep the mast up while getting off the tramp and pinning the forestay?
Who's coming to Spring Fever? There are four F16's registered so far, there were a good many last year as I remember. | | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245415 03/11/12 06:46 AM 03/11/12 06:46 AM |
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 5,525 pgp
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,525 | You might want to try the AHPC site: http://www.ahpc.com.au/I rig my boat differently.
Pete Pollard Blade 702
'When you have a lot of things to do, it's best to get your nap out of the way first.
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245417 03/11/12 08:33 AM 03/11/12 08:33 AM |
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 217 Palm Harbor, FL daniel_t
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Posts: 217 Palm Harbor, FL | The Viper owner's manual says stepping the mast takes a minimum of two people, but you might find this video helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9fqyRIJnE4The basic idea is that you attach extensions to your shrouds so you can secure them when the mast is facing *forward* of the boat. With the shrouds and forestay secured and the mast pointing forward, lift the mast into position. The forestay and one of the shrouds will take the weight of the mast. The mast will be leaning because of the extensions on the shrouds. Then go to the slack shroud, remove the extension and connect is properly. After that go to the other shroud, pull the mast vertical, remove the extension and connect it properly. I haven't actually tried this method of raising the mast, but the Viper owner's manual says, "... the hinged mast step allows the mast to be raised and lowered from any direction. The key to this is that the front of the mast must face the direction that it is to be raised from, or lowered to." So I'm thinking that this method will work. If you try it, come back and let us know how it went.
Last edited by daniel_t; 03/11/12 08:34 AM. Reason: typo
Daniel T. Taipan F16 - USA 213 | | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245419 03/11/12 09:05 AM 03/11/12 09:05 AM |
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,382 Essex, UK Jalani
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Posts: 1,382 Essex, UK | I've always used the spin halyard attached to the bridle. I've done it for years and never had it go wrong.
With the mast down and shrouds attached properly, run the spin halyard to one of the bridle tangs on a hull. Temporarily attach the forestay somewhere convenient on the mast (I use the gooseneck). Now lift the mast to vertical and, once there, take up all the spin halyard slack and cleat it. Your mast will stay up while you step off the tramp and rig the forestay properly.
John Alani ___________ Stealth F16s GBR527 and GBR538 | | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: daniel_t]
#245421 03/11/12 09:28 AM 03/11/12 09:28 AM |
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 5,525 pgp
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,525 | The Viper owner's manual says stepping the mast takes a minimum of two people, but you might find this video helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9fqyRIJnE4The basic idea is that you attach extensions to your shrouds so you can secure them when the mast is facing *forward* of the boat. With the shrouds and forestay secured and the mast pointing forward, lift the mast into position. The forestay and one of the shrouds will take the weight of the mast. The mast will be leaning because of the extensions on the shrouds. Then go to the slack shroud, remove the extension and connect is properly. After that go to the other shroud, pull the mast vertical, remove the extension and connect it properly. I haven't actually tried this method of raising the mast, but the Viper owner's manual says, "... the hinged mast step allows the mast to be raised and lowered from any direction. The key to this is that the front of the mast must face the direction that it is to be raised from, or lowered to." So I'm thinking that this method will work. If you try it, come back and let us know how it went. That looks like the method AHPC recommended for the Taipan 4.9. I know at least one T4.9 sailor who raises his mast that way. It is basically the system I use for the Blade but I leave the mast in the trailer cradle so that I don't have to lift it from the ground. It's basically already 1/3 the way up. Additionally I use two temporary side stays to keep from bending the mast link. I always raise my mast single handed, always have.
Last edited by pgp; 03/11/12 09:29 AM.
Pete Pollard Blade 702
'When you have a lot of things to do, it's best to get your nap out of the way first.
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: Jalani]
#245423 03/11/12 11:34 AM 03/11/12 11:34 AM |
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn Karl_Brogger
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn | I've always used the spin halyard attached to the bridle. I've done it for years and never had it go wrong.
With the mast down and shrouds attached properly, run the spin halyard to one of the bridle tangs on a hull. Temporarily attach the forestay somewhere convenient on the mast (I use the gooseneck). Now lift the mast to vertical and, once there, take up all the spin halyard slack and cleat it. Your mast will stay up while you step off the tramp and rig the forestay properly. That's what I do.
I'm boatless.
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245424 03/11/12 11:44 AM 03/11/12 11:44 AM | Mac m OP
Unregistered
| Mac m OP
Unregistered | I think I'll try using the spin halyard. Should be taking it out next weekend for the first time.
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: Jalani]
#245487 03/13/12 12:26 PM 03/13/12 12:26 PM |
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,049 Sebring, Florida. Timbo
Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,049 Sebring, Florida. | I've always used the spin halyard attached to the bridle. I've done it for years and never had it go wrong.
With the mast down and shrouds attached properly, run the spin halyard to one of the bridle tangs on a hull. Temporarily attach the forestay somewhere convenient on the mast (I use the gooseneck). Now lift the mast to vertical and, once there, take up all the spin halyard slack and cleat it. Your mast will stay up while you step off the tramp and rig the forestay properly. That's the way I've been doing it for years as well, I rarely have any 'helpers' available when I'm rigging up at home. The only difference is, I always step the mast while the boat is still tied down on the trailer, and trailer hooked to truck, so I tie the halyard to the mast support post on the front of the trailer. I also use one of those $10 Walmart floating seat cushions between the mast and the rear beam, while I'm putting the mast step pin in. Then just lift it up and push forward (be aware of which way the wind is blowing!) and pull the halyard very tight, step down and tie off the forestay to the bridals, then release the spin halyard and UNTIE IT FROM THE TRAILOR! It gets pretty funny when you try to pull the boat off the trailor with the halyard still tied to it...or so I have heard.
Blade F16 #777
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245553 03/14/12 02:58 PM 03/14/12 02:58 PM |
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn Karl_Brogger
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Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn | After re-reading Johns post, the only difference I have is I tie the halyard off to the bridle.
I'm boatless.
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245564 03/14/12 07:18 PM 03/14/12 07:18 PM |
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,382 Essex, UK Jalani
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Posts: 1,382 Essex, UK | If you tie the spin halyard to one tang rather than the bridle, it leaves the bridle unloaded and completely free so that attaching the forestay is very easy....
John Alani ___________ Stealth F16s GBR527 and GBR538 | | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245603 03/15/12 12:39 PM 03/15/12 12:39 PM |
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn Karl_Brogger
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Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn | See I think the opposite. It pulls up on the bridle, and its more or less in line with the forestay.
I hate holding both.
I'm boatless.
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245611 03/15/12 02:01 PM 03/15/12 02:01 PM |
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,049 Sebring, Florida. Timbo
Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,049 Sebring, Florida. | I tried that once, but the spin halyard kept getting in the way of the forestay and the tie line, so I use the trailer mast support. I migh try the bow eye where the bridle attaches sometime, see if that's any easier.
Blade F16 #777
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#245813 03/20/12 05:06 AM 03/20/12 05:06 AM | Mac m OP
Unregistered
| Mac m OP
Unregistered | Put he mast up this weekend and had my cat trax on the sterns so they were higher than the bows. Once I got the mast up it stayed up due to the forward lean. I had help so I was there just in case it tried to fall but it didn't. Not sure I would count on this every time, but it worked Saturday. I also checked out using the spin halyard as mentioned and will probably do this next time I'm alone. | | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#246443 03/29/12 09:12 AM 03/29/12 09:12 AM |
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 16 Satellite Beach, FL Ringo
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Posts: 16 Satellite Beach, FL | I mostly rig my boat solo as well and I used the method described by Jalani. Matt was the one that told me to use the spin halyard attached to the bridle. I WAS attaching it to where I'd put the fore stay, but that was a pain as I'd have to work around it while attaching the fore stay to the bridle once the mast was up and in place by the spin.
Matt later told me that someone posted a trick on here to attach the spin halyard to the bridle tang (as Jalani mentioned) in order to avoid this. I was worried that this would rip out the tang but then he made a great point that it only has a couple of pounds of load as it doesn't take much to hold it forward. Just make sure the stern is in the wind and it becomes very easy. The apex of the bridles are left free to attach the fore stay. Life becomes easy again :-)
George P. Harrison Falcon F16 - USA 236
| | | Re: Mast stepping
[Re: ]
#246506 03/29/12 08:29 PM 03/29/12 08:29 PM |
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn Karl_Brogger
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Posts: 4,118 Northfield Mn | I tie off the halyard to the shackle that pins the tack of the jib.
I'm boatless.
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