I just bought my first sailboat (Nacra 6.0) I have only sailed a dozen times but I am HOOKED! My son is fifteen and went to camp and experienced sailing on a Sun fisher I told him about Catamarans and this past summer we went out on a boat that we paid someone for each day. My question is I need a video that will give me instruction on how to raise my mast properly and sails and all the other little checks, Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Sailhawk
Welcome to the Dark Side! Congratulations on the Nacra 6.0, great boat and fast! You might be able to find a "Nacra Mast Raising" video on You Tube, but where are you located? If you can get to any local catamaran regatta with your boat, there will be lots of sailors there who can show you how to do it the easiest way.
That's a big, heavy stick, but it can be done alone if you know how, much easier with one helper to pin it while you hold it upright.
Put it on the beach first, and then hook up the side stays. After you pin the base to the forward beam, put one guy on the tramp while the other gets back at the mast tip and just walks it up with his hands up over his head until he gets to the rear beam then the guy on the tramp can lift it to upright. Then the guy at the back runs around to the front and pins the forestay to the bridle.
I've done my Inter 20 mast alone many times, but I always put the boat pointing down a big hill in my back yard, so once the mast is up it will stay up by itself, while I pin the forestay.
man, I would have kept that video to myself. That's a terrifying view of a lot of people who have no idea how to step a mast.
I had a 6.0NA for a while and it is indeed quite an awesome boat. The mast is definitely on the heavy side. I heaved mine up manually most of the time with the help of one other person as Tim describes but I did eventually switch to a winch on the trailer after a bout of back pain kept me out of a regatta or two.
Jake Kohl
Re: NEWBEE HELP
[Re: Jake]
#280935 10/28/1502:06 PM10/28/1502:06 PM
"After you pin the base to the forward beam, put one guy on the tramp while the other gets back at the mast tip and just walks it up with his hands up over his head until he gets to the rear beam then the guy on the tramp can lift it to upright. Then the guy at the back runs around to the front and pins the forestay to the bridle." Couple more tips: check for powerlines first. tie a very long line to the fore stay and have the helper pull on that after the guy on the tramp gets the mast to his shoulders. The person pulling on the line can almost raise the mast with that kind of leverage if they stand out in front of the boat and the line is not too rough on the hands. The person on the tramp is just guiding it up.
Re: NEWBEE HELP
[Re: Jake]
#280938 10/28/1503:28 PM10/28/1503:28 PM
I think he was talking about the very first video I posted, the way NOT to raise a mast! It looks like they are doing it in a storm, with lots of wind, another big No-No when trying to step your mast!
Thanks for all the feedback on the mast, I've been reading about auto rotating and it does not sound good. I have never hoisted the sails on my own so I'm just a little cautious. I'm in north central Florida Sailhawk
Thanks for all the feedback on the mast, I've been reading about auto rotating and it does not sound good. I have never hoisted the sails on my own so I'm just a little cautious. I'm in north central Florida Sailhawk
Auto rotating is great, you just have to learn how to use it.
Blade F16 #777
Re: NEWBEE HELP
[Re: Timbo]
#280949 10/28/1508:33 PM10/28/1508:33 PM
I think he was talking about the very first video I posted, the way NOT to raise a mast! It looks like they are doing it in a storm, with lots of wind, another big No-No when trying to step your mast!
I was. I had to quit watching it!
Jake Kohl
Re: NEWBEE HELP
[Re: Timbo]
#280954 10/29/1507:57 AM10/29/1507:57 AM
I think he was talking about the very first video I posted, the way NOT to raise a mast! It looks like they are doing it in a storm, with lots of wind, another big No-No when trying to step your mast!
Got it Yea that is terrible on so many levels Having little kids pulling on guy lines, a yahoo on a movable staircase (who would surly get creamed if the mast fell), running the guy line through the mast yoke.... wow
I did have to laugh at Timbo's video for a number of reasons, but that one guy who ran over to attach the forestay and BOING! right into the spinnaker bridle reminded me of how many times I did that...
Jay
Re: NEWBEE HELP
[Re: ]
#280957 10/29/1509:20 AM10/29/1509:20 AM
I think he was talking about the very first video I posted, the way NOT to raise a mast! It looks like they are doing it in a storm, with lots of wind, another big No-No when trying to step your mast!
Got it Yea that is terrible on so many levels Having little kids pulling on guy lines, a yahoo on a movable staircase (who would surly get creamed if the mast fell), running the guy line through the mast yoke.... wow
It may be a little easier if they plant the tip of the mast in the ground. Then all use ladders to swivel the catamaran 31' in the air. and then use a crane to revert it back to the normal position (hulls down)....
Originally Posted by Tony_F18
Originally Posted by MN3
Originally Posted by Timbo
I think he was talking about the very first video I posted, the way NOT to raise a mast! It looks like they are doing it in a storm, with lots of wind, another big No-No when trying to step your mast!
Got it Yea that is terrible on so many levels Having little kids pulling on guy lines, a yahoo on a movable staircase (who would surly get creamed if the mast fell), running the guy line through the mast yoke.... wow
They just needed a few more people
Re: NEWBEE HELP
[Re: ]
#280971 10/29/1502:39 PM10/29/1502:39 PM