Greetings to All,

I have an SC-17. I am not able to raise the mast (55 lbs & 29 feet) by myself without risking injury to myself and the boat. Can anyone comment concerning the durability and user friendliness of the EZ-Step ginpole system? Are there other alternatives?

I think the reason you aren't getting any replies to this question is that there are SEVERAL prior threads that discuss this topic. You should use the search engine and I'm sure you'll find what you are looking for. Several people have expressed dissatisfaction with the EZ STEP unit, not from it's usefulness, but from it's price. That is my recollection. The prior threads all have alternative solutions to your problem. Good luck,
Greg

I am quite happy with the EZ-Step pole that I use on my P19 and would recommend it to anyone who wants full control over the mast raising process.
Jack

Thanks for the replies.

Jack, what does the EZ-Step system consist of? The small drawing used to advertise the system does not show much detail. Is the pole aluminum and heavy duty enough to handle the job? How do you attach the pole to the mast base? Does the pole do any damage to the mast? Does the pole have a small wheel and bearing at one end to help slide the winch cable or forestay over it? What type of cables or rope are used to attach the pole to the ends of the front beam?

Steve

Hi,
The pole is made from 1" aluminum tubing and is plenty heavy for the job. It has a rubber coated base that attaches to the mast with a strap. There are two straps that angle down to the corners of the front crossbeam, which I attach to the barber hauler. The trapeze wire attach at these same point and keep the mast centered while raising.
I have a 3/16 non-stretch line attached to my upper mast that attaches to the upper pole with a clip. The winch attaches to the other side of this clip.
Jack

Jack,

Thank you for the information. I purchased the EZ-Step system. Do you need a winch with an automatic brake to help lower the mast in a safer manner? What would happen if you lost contol of the winch handle while lowering the mast?

Regards,

Steve

An automatic brake would definitely help out as a safety factor. If you lost control of the handle of a standard winch, (which is what I have) you would make a lot of noise and hopefully nobody gets hurt. I haven't had any trouble with my standard winch, but I do pay attention to my grip and my surroundings when using it.

Jack