Announcements
New Discussions
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Hop To
Mast Steppers #81452
07/31/06 07:13 PM
07/31/06 07:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 33
Oklahoma City, OK
alan_ellis Offline OP
newbie
alan_ellis  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 33
Oklahoma City, OK
Has anyone ever used the Mast Stepper II (as seen in the Hobie catalog). I have a bad back and already had one mast stepping "incident" so I was looking for a safer alternative. (Incident: Dumba$$ me fell of the back of the tramp while lowering the mast by hand. What is worse was that the boat was on the trailer.)

Anyway, if my mast stand is high enough, I was considering getting this. Any thoughts?

Thanks...


H16 - 2005 Ventura Nationals Boat #21 www.JackieandAlan.com
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: Mast Steppers [Re: alan_ellis] #81453
08/01/06 12:19 PM
08/01/06 12:19 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Karl_Brogger  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
When I'm by myself I use a couple of pieces of plywood 2.25" wide and about 7' long or so. I drilled a hole in the end of each one and put a piece of rope through the holes leaving about a foot between the two pieces of plywood. Jamb the other end of the boards into the corner castings on the tramp, and the rope up against the mast. This will hold it so you can get the forestay connected. I hate to be a jerk but that gave me a funny mental image, and I laughed.


I'm boatless.
Re: Mast Steppers [Re: alan_ellis] #81454
08/01/06 05:45 PM
08/01/06 05:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 349
Fort Loramie, Ohio
jmhoying Offline
enthusiast
jmhoying  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 349
Fort Loramie, Ohio
Once I went to a larger boat, I starting using a EZ-Step to raise our mast. It works very nice and will allow you to raise the mast leisurly and safely. I'm sure the Mast Stepper II would work fine for you also.
Jack


Jack Hoying Fort Loramie, Ohio
Re: Mast Steppers [Re: Karl_Brogger] #81455
08/01/06 06:10 PM
08/01/06 06:10 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
hrtsailor Offline
enthusiast
hrtsailor  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
I raise my mast by myself on my H-16 even when offered assistance. Raising an H-16 mast is not that difficult. I use a tripod to hold the mast horizontal while I put in the pin. I tie a line about 8' long, one end to the jib halyard and the other end to the bridle and raise the mast. I lean into it and reach down to undo the jib halyard from the cleat and pull it in and tie it off so it supports the mast. Then I can get down and fasten the forestay.

Howard

Re: Mast Steppers [Re: hrtsailor] #81456
08/02/06 10:41 AM
08/02/06 10:41 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 29
Banner Elk, NC
Bill K. Offline
newbie
Bill K.  Offline
newbie

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 29
Banner Elk, NC
I use Howard's technique as well. It's really quite easy and safe as long as you remember to reinsert the pin and don't fall off the tramp. If you do either one of those things once I'm sure you'll never do them again <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />


83' Hobie 16
Re: Mast Steppers [Re: hrtsailor] #81457
08/02/06 03:48 PM
08/02/06 03:48 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 33
Oklahoma City, OK
alan_ellis Offline OP
newbie
alan_ellis  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 33
Oklahoma City, OK
Quote
I raise my mast by myself on my H-16 even when offered assistance. Raising an H-16 mast is not that difficult. I use a tripod to hold the mast horizontal while I put in the pin. I tie a line about 8' long, one end to the jib halyard and the other end to the bridle and raise the mast. I lean into it and reach down to undo the jib halyard from the cleat and pull it in and tie it off so it supports the mast. Then I can get down and fasten the forestay.


I'm having a hard time getting a mental image, but I'll take an 8' piece of line out to the boat and experiment. Thanks for the replys.


H16 - 2005 Ventura Nationals Boat #21 www.JackieandAlan.com
Re: Mast Steppers [Re: alan_ellis] #81458
08/02/06 07:39 PM
08/02/06 07:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
hrtsailor Offline
enthusiast
hrtsailor  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
Alan,

Basically what you want to do is fasten the jib halyard to the bridle so that when you get the mast up, you can tighten the halyard and it holds up the mast. The 8' piece of rope is just to extend the halyard since it isn't long enough to reach the bridle. Make sure your shrouds and trapeze wires are not going to catch on anything before you start to raise the mast.

Howard

Re: Mast Steppers [Re: hrtsailor] #81459
08/02/06 07:49 PM
08/02/06 07:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 33
Oklahoma City, OK
alan_ellis Offline OP
newbie
alan_ellis  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 33
Oklahoma City, OK
I think I get it. You pull on the jib halyard while leaning into the mast. I'll try it...thanks.


H16 - 2005 Ventura Nationals Boat #21 www.JackieandAlan.com
Re: Mast Steppers [Re: alan_ellis] #81460
08/18/06 01:47 PM
08/18/06 01:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 306
St. Louis, MO
hobienick Offline
enthusiast
hobienick  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 306
St. Louis, MO
That is definitely the easiest way to do it, but if you are still nervous about your back do a search for mast stepping on this forum. I participated in a great thread that described a few DIY solutions in detail for safe and easy solo stepping.


Nick

Current Boat
Looking for one

Previous Boats
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
'74 Pearson 30
St. Louis, MO
Re: Mast Steppers [Re: alan_ellis] #81461
08/18/06 02:04 PM
08/18/06 02:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
IN
B
Bruce8989 Offline
stranger
Bruce8989  Offline
stranger
B

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
IN
I recently installed the Mast Stepper II on my trailer. It does work. It is a little hard to tell exactly what you get from the Hobie catalog. For your $45.00 you get 3 pieces of short rope, a swiveling pulley, and a tang to hang it on. If your mast support is 30" or so above the tramp cross bar, basically higher than you head when you stand next to it, it works. You mount the tang and pulley as high as possible, run your winch cable / rope through it and fasten that to the forestay. Use a piece of short rope to tie your trapeze wire to the front corner of your tramp. After installing the step link, have a helper wind the winch while you balance the mast on your shoulder while standing on the tramp. It is easier, and no strain on you or your winch helper. I plan on trying it singlehandely soon. So in a nutchell - it works - but you can make one yourself for less money IMHO.


Moderated by  Damon Linkous 

Search

Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 440 guests, and 85 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Darryl, zorro, CraigJ, PaulEddo2, AUS180
8150 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
Forum Statistics
Forums26
Topics22,404
Posts267,055
Members8,150
Most Online2,167
Dec 19th, 2022
--Advertisement--
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1