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Solo mast raising #89277
11/10/06 06:08 PM
11/10/06 06:08 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12
West Point, Utah
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MikeG Offline OP
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MikeG  Offline OP
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West Point, Utah
Did a quick search and could not find anything on solo mast stepping. It's getting to the mid 40's here and that makes it harder to convince my crew to come sailing. What is the best method of single handedly raising the mast? Gin pole on the mast base, pole on the trailer tongue? Just looking for some experienced views here. Thanks

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Re: Solo mast raising [Re: MikeG] #89278
11/10/06 10:53 PM
11/10/06 10:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
hrtsailor Offline
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North Carolina
Mike,

I presume you are talking about an H-16. I raise my mast alone all the time. I use a tripod to hold up the end of the mast. I tie a line about 8' long from the jib halyard to the bridle. Making sure that the shrouds and wires are clear and won't catch on the tramp supports, I raise the mast. I then lean into it, reach down and uncleat the jib halyard, pull the halyard tight, and cleat it off to hold the mast up. I then get down and put the pin in the forestay. Dropping the mast is just the reverse.

Howard

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: hrtsailor] #89279
11/11/06 03:31 AM
11/11/06 03:31 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12
West Point, Utah
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MikeG Offline OP
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West Point, Utah
Thanks Howard,
I knew there was a less complex way to do this thing. No gin poles or guy lines, a truly elegant solution.

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: MikeG] #89280
11/11/06 09:29 AM
11/11/06 09:29 AM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6
Central Florida
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Monte Offline
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Central Florida
I typically fly solo, so have done this a few times...

I use one of those folding step ladders as a rest for the mast while stepping it (definitely helps in getting the mast started up). I untie one of the jibsheets from the traveller, and tie it off to the forestay. Once the mast is raised, I just cleat in the jibsheet, and it holds the mast in place, while I go up front and pin it in. Raise the jib, releasing the tension on the halyard, and untie the jibsheet. Then retie the jibsheet to the traveller, and off you go...(after raising the sails, of course)

This way, it doesnt need any additional lines, poles, wires or such.

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: Monte] #89281
11/11/06 05:47 PM
11/11/06 05:47 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
hrtsailor Offline
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North Carolina
Monte,

Do you take the jib sheet around the bridle and then tie it to the forestay? I can't quite picture otherwise, how the jib sheet would hold the forestay to hold the mast up.

One advantage of using the jib halyard and a piece of line, is that when the mast is up and the halyard cleated, the forestay is loose and easy to handle. It usually is very easy then to pin to the adjuster especially with the bridle held up in place.

Your folding ladder sounds like a good idea. I use 3 aluminum tent poles that I drilled and tied with line to make a tripod.

Howard

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: hrtsailor] #89282
11/13/06 02:51 PM
11/13/06 02:51 PM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6
Central Florida
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Monte Offline
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Central Florida
Yes, I take the sheet around the bridle. IT can be a tight squeeze in the adjuster my way, with the jibsheet attached to the forestay, and trying to pin it. I will have to try it your way, sounds like it might be easier to pin the forestay, and it only takes the extra length of line.

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: Monte] #89283
11/13/06 10:15 PM
11/13/06 10:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
hrtsailor Offline
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North Carolina
Monte,

You will find it very easy to pin the forestay using the length of line tied to the bridle and the jib halyard. I wish I could take credit for the idea but I actually read this in an old Hobie Hotline several years ago.

Howard

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: hrtsailor] #89284
01/23/07 05:55 PM
01/23/07 05:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 70
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tx246 Offline
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i use a length of line on the halyard and run it through a pulley that has been placed on the upright of trailer. the line is long enough that i can hold it while stepping the mast. once the mast is up, i tie it to the mast cleat. hop down and attatch bridles.

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: tx246] #89285
01/24/07 10:06 AM
01/24/07 10:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
hrtsailor Offline
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North Carolina
That way you don't uncleat and re-cleat the jib halyard. The only problem you might have is keeping track of that line so it is in hand when you get the mast up.

Howard

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: hrtsailor] #89286
10/06/07 01:39 PM
10/06/07 01:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 224
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tri_X_Troll Offline
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Cincinnati, Ohio
Digging up a dead post.....

I've been sailing lasers and sunfish for years and just stepped up to an H16.

I've tried to step the mast solo a couple times and it was wondering if it should be so heavy? I felt like a body builder trying to step it.


Ryan - H16 I prefer to go sailing because baseball, football, tennis, and golf only require 1 ball!
Re: Solo mast raising [Re: Tri_X_Troll] #89287
10/06/07 04:55 PM
10/06/07 04:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
North Carolina
hrtsailor Offline
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Posts: 221
North Carolina
I am not sure but I believe the comptip mast is heavier than the all aluminum mast. My mast is all aluminum. Also check to be sure there isn't any water in the mast.

I find that it seems heavier in the beginning of the season and gets easier. I am 73, had heart surgery in March, and was raising the mast solo in June so it isn't that hard.

Howard

Re: Solo mast raising [Re: hrtsailor] #89288
10/06/07 10:13 PM
10/06/07 10:13 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 224
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tri_X_Troll Offline
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Cincinnati, Ohio
I do have a comp tip mast, I think. Perhaps it's a leverage issue, as I'm only 5'4" and 140lbs. My brother is 6" and was able to step it with much more ease.


Ryan - H16 I prefer to go sailing because baseball, football, tennis, and golf only require 1 ball!
Re: Solo mast raising [Re: Tri_X_Troll] #89289
10/07/07 09:02 PM
10/07/07 09:02 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
Leverage is a major part of it. Standing at the very back of the tramp while lifting makes it a bit easier.


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