Mariner’s Mirror 51:33-4. That’s how the mast was designed to be stepped and it works well if you’re young, strong, and there are two or more of you to do the job. I also see the stress on the mast crutch essentially dictates one use the transom gudgeons for support. Mast steps are available in either fixed or folding designs. I’ll also explain some topics that lead up to and follow mast stepping, like how I: When I started trailering Summer Dance years ago, I researched a lot about mast stepping. A ladder, piece of string, and a sharp eye are all you need. The total cost was half the price of the commercial version and in some ways, works even better. Keep my mast in tune without having to loosen and re-tighten the shroud turnbuckles to step the mast. Stay tuned here for a separate post on the quick releases and maintaining mast tune that’s coming soon! Rest the mast heel on the mast step with the front side of the mast uppermost. 2. The triangular shape of fixed steps (bottom) will help keep a foot from slipping off; however, these steps will add windage. I disconnect the main sheet and attach it to the traveler car. Due to the slightly round shape of the mast, make a cut in the lower part that will be riveted onto the mast and bend the two feet a little bit so they adjust slightly to the curve of your mast. I have the same quick release. It’s two pages of items that can help make sure you don’t forget something important for your next cruise — everything from an umbrella for the first mate while she waits for you to step the mast to step-by-step instructions that you can have on deck for the gin pole method described above. As it rotates backward during unstepping, the bottom end of the mast and the through bolt should ride up in the slots. I am curious about what the black,plastic/rubber item is that looks like it’s attached to the stern rail by the mast crutch @ 2:45 of the first video Please respond because my curiosity is killing me because I don’t get it. Step 1. Or does yours have some reinforcement? (ATN used to specify a static line, but its latest ascenders will fit any size of halyard). The other person pulls on the forestay. But when I try to lift the mast with the forstay can’t do. I do that sometimes. http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/product/345_18/mast-step-c-22-cp-22brcp-18-wwelded-vang-loop.cfm, https://www.tropicalboating.com/2010/04/the-perfect-solo-mast-raising-system-for-small-sailboats, Add a Solar-Powered Flood Light in Your Cockpit. It’s free and you’ll join the hundreds of other stingy sailors that receive exclusive info, news, and offers like this one. I did not make a fabrication drawing for the pulpit saddle because of the complex angles of the railing cutouts. Your site is awesome and very helpful! If you’re lucky, it’s in your DNA and it comes easily to you. The ceremonial practice is believed to originate from ancient Rome. Hmmm, this asks more questions for than answers. Mast Steps are usually bolted through the Deck, or into the Keel. Thanks for the video on the no pole lift, that’s pretty much how I need to do it though I usually am working on the hard before getting a lift in. Of course this screws with any staying arrangements you might have, so maybe some tracks for the stays too. Could you add me to whatever email list you use? Stay tuned because I’ll be publishing a post soon about choosing and using a furler with a trailerable sailboat. Otherwise, you might be looking at extensive fabrications or commercial mast stepping hardware with a winch. They really just help to hold the boom vertical while you’re setting the system up until you begin to raise the mast. I’ll give you an overview of each aspect in the text below but to really get it, you should watch the videos. Rest the mast heel on the mast step with the front side of the mast uppermost. Excellent report and diagram on the mast stepper. The thing is the boat is smaller 20′ vs 22′ I have no lifelines nor a rear rail, walking down the side of the boat would be a challange, never mind running lines while doing so. I am told that the L bracket can be passed through the deck attached to the mast. The most obvious difference between the two from a livability standpoint is the presence or absence of a mast inside the cabin. Poorly written but pretty simple, huh? The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. A big stick. Use it as a starting point to add and remove items to make your own checklist. I struggle with the mast raising and have an assistant. That’s right, Jim. I use some “sail ties” which are very similar to your ball ties to secure the sail on the boom and the boom is stowed inside the cabin. It's usually a long step, and most people can't do it. I bought the steel myself from the cutoff pile at a local metal distributor. Using a fine drill, drill a centre hole in the middle of the bottom of the mast. If you don’t get it, I don’t know what more I can do on my end. It was messy, but in the end there is no way water is getting through. Link showing the step: http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/product/345_18/mast-step-c-22-cp-22brcp-18-wwelded-vang-loop.cfm. The second bonus is a dimensioned drawing and materials list for my DIY mast crutch that is described at the beginning of this post. Great post. … If the existing mast step casting is in good condition and with enough inherent strength to do the job, it can be attached to the top plate by machine screws, either with nuts or tapped into the step casting. I may have gone a little overboard, and I went a ways up the mast with the wax. There are four standard lengths, from 27ft to 50ft. Making that may be the tricky part for me to get this thing. You’ve devised a very clever approach- I’ve never remounted my boom so will need how I can attach it to the fore ring on the step plate. One theory is that, due to the dangers of early sea travel, the coins were placed under the mast so the crew would be able to cross to the afterlife if the ship were sunk. It may be a ceremonial occasion on a new boat, a necessary step, as in stepping the mast of a small sailing dinghy or gig, or simply routine, as following seasonal maintenance on a sailboat. plus appendages) and will need to be vertical above the step until through the deck so tower pivot will need to be more than 12m from deck plus 4m to ground say 16m. Enter your email address below to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. A smaller sailboat could indeed be trickier to step the mast single-handed since it has less rigging to aid the process. You wouldn’t need to be concerned about painting or rust. Following is a close-up video of just the mast stepper. Your site has been a tremendous help and inspiration for me and my 1988 Cat 22. The previous video mentions my DIY mast stepper, also called a Mastup by a popular online Catalina parts retailer. You might not want to do it that way your first few times, so here’s what it looks like using the boom as a gin pole. These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time with or without notice. Ensure all turnbuckles and stays are new or have been inspected and serviced. The boat is held to the trailer using a stern ratchet strap and a turnbuckle on the bow, and the winch cable attached. Depending on how close the fit is and how much overlap, when you’re rolling the mast back to set it in the step, there can be considerable strain on that “joint.” A thin wall or soft aluminum might deform so make it beefy there. Th mast pin slides back into the slot then down. Therefore, if the load at which a deck-stepped mast will buckle (which you don't want to have happen, of course) is at a load P using a C coefficient of 1.0, then the very same mast, with the same rigging arrangement, but stepped on the keel, would have a critical buckling load 50% greater (C = 1.5), due solely to the fixety of the step. I might have to resort to one as I get older and am not able to do everything I once could. I connect the other end of the main sheet (that’s normally attached to the traveler car) to the stem plate where the forestay is normally attached. The mast is supported on both ends and in the middle. Did you get that one? Here’s what it looks like when it’s done on the water. Required fields are marked *. NC 145: 67-81. Angle the aft edge of the end of the mast so that it will rotate without binding in both directions. These fixed or folding metal steps are most often seen aboard shorthanded cruising boats and can make getting up the mast as simple as climbing a ladder. I don’t want to spend an hour lowering the mast and tying the rig down. The main sheet or the boom vang typically multiplies the force applied to it by four times. Thanks. 3. Let’s see–sailboat design is all about capturing, multiplying, and redirecting forces for mechanical advantage: the hull, keel, rudder, mast, sails, rigging, almost everything. This made it a two-person job, with myself up the mast and my neighbour supervising and doing the hard work of winching me up to the height needed for fixing each step. I usually use the halyards to tie everything up, but that takes more time than it should. Carlson, Deborah N. 2007. deck tie downs or Spartite . In your case, an adjustable mast step is a real good idea, so you can move the stick fore and aft as you dial in the best placement. "Coins for Luck under the Mast." Then drill two holes in the bottom feet and one into the top part and smoothen the edges a bit. All content provided on The $tingy Sailor blog is for informational purposes only. Second and more importantly, you’d need to lift the furler as well as the mast somehow. If you’re not committed to perfecting a single-handed technique, I’d suggest you consider a two-handed process with one crew member in the cockpit to steady the mast laterally while the second crew member pulls the mast up by the forestay or foresail halyard from the bow or on the ground in front of the bow. My mast step has welded loops fore and aft. I like your use of the “ball ties” for securing the rigging on the trailer. Mast stepping is the process of raising the mast of a boat. Step 5 - Mast Foot. You weren’t receiving the newsletter initially because you’re a WordPress user so if you follow, my posts should show up in your Reader list instead of by email. Underneath the boot there was basically just a huge gap between the mast and the deck with several rubber spacers poked into the hole. On the opposite (bottom) side of the boom from the forestay, I connect the end of my main sheet tackle that doesn’t have the cam cleat. We step the mast with a single pin in an "L" shaped slot. With the help of friends or family? How to Step a Mast Build the mast either track up or track down depending on whether the crane will be set up forward of where the mast sits or aft of where the mast sits (bow-in or stern-to) Hang all standing rigging. I added a close-up picture of the hinge bracket about midway through the post. What would it take to convert this to a deck stepped mast? Thanks! What do all these system have in common? What if you need to step the … If all is clear, continue to raise the mast until it rests on the mast step … High-tech laser devices are not required to get your mast and keel in alignment. Fasten the webbing at bottom of the E-Z STEP pole around the mast near the base using the buckle. This is the same configuration as when the main sheet is attached for sailing. [ One person lifts ] the mast and positions the heel into the mast step. They charge $250.00 an hour to unstep/step Masts and it usually takes a half an hour mininum. But what if you don’t normally have a second able crew member? What are all gin poles in their most basic form? What you decide to install comes down to personal preference. When I started trailering Summer Dance years ago, I researched a lot about mast stepping. I want it to be quick and simple. Thanks for the blog. Pass the end of the stabilizing straps under the hulls and connect the D-ring together with the same Any thoughts on how I could achieve that effect? For me, it has to be secure enough to tow for a hundred miles over bumpy state highways and county backroads to my favorite cruising spots. This small hole will take the gauge of a map pin. I really like the simplicity of raising the mast without a gin pole. When the mast is vertical, I reconnect the forestay and forward lower shrouds using quick release levers. Attached are some pictures from the deck, mast step below and the monstrous mast inside the main cabin. I’ll describe two ways that I step the mast, including one way that doesn’t use a gin pole at all. The last newsletter went out on May 21 titled What’s Your Favorite DIY Project? I spoke to my fabricator friend about using aluminum and, him not knowing about the stepping process was most concerned about the hinges holding weight while trailering over the road. I just started squishing wax into every nook and cranny. Maybe you have too: They all struck me as overkill for the real problem. When considering what glue to use for stepping the masts - I recommend using a two-part epoxy for gluing the mast to the deck. This will act as the anchor point to secure the mast to the deck. Make it fast somewhere close to the base of the mast and crank the halyard tight with a winch. In operation, this ring must be centered directly across from the mast step pivot bolt. It's usually a long step, and most people can't do it. Love your site. I finally understand the function of a gin pole and how to use it. Since I use my mainsheet tackle, no, but if you want to use a separate tackle, that would be a good idea. I connect the forestay to a shackle on the top side of the (upper) end of the boom. The boat is 35' the mast will be at least 15-16m long (the mast on my 33' boat is 15m. Not sure how to go about raising the mast without help…even with this setup…. I lower the mast by the same method but in reverse, which helps to remember the steps in both directions. I disconnect the boom from the system and attach it in its normal place between the mast slide and the topping lift or backstay pendant. If you’re a follower of this blog and have the password, you can find a scale drawing of this bracket on the Downloads page. Love your vids on raising mast. Whew! This follows closely the Catalina 22 Owner’s Manual and General Handbook recommendation. Aha moments are great! I have tried raising the mast as you show in the video. Also, have you ever noticed the boom baby stays pulling too much on the stantions? I’ve had a great time but I’m tired and there’s many miles to go before I sleep. Your email address will not be published. Try it at 2″ and if the top tube is too loose for you and it wobbles around, drill another hole farther up the inner tube, say at 4″ and try that. We have not used this method on our 76 and currently unaware of as to if this method will work. Insert the mast-hinge lock pin. So you are looking at $125.00 min. Walk the mast aft and drop the mast foot into the mast step on top of the deck, keeping the mast in center line of boat, insert the pivot bolt and locking nut. Thanks. Folding steps (top) reduce windage and are less likely to snag lines when folded. You'll also receive occasional newsletters with exclusive info and deals only for subscribers and the password to the Downloads page. The person supporting the mast guides it into the mast … The most obvious approach for getting up your mast would be to turn your mast into a giant ladder using mast steps. Winch-powered mast raising systems are a good choice for owners with impaired physical abilities. The stays provide all the support needed. Most C-22 gin poles use one of two methods to attach the gin pole to the mast: Neither of those gin poles serve any purpose after the mast is raised. Use it to build your own and save some money for something else. 2. I sealed the plate and hole perimeters with butyl tape, so no problems. I’m guessing you are using a basic vang ? Side stays and halyards are already in position. Tying the baby stays to the stanchion bases would be more solid but then their pivot points would be too low. The Romans believed it was necessary for a person to take coins with them to pay Charon, in order to cross the river Styx to the afterlife and as a result of this, coins were placed in the mouths of the dead before they were buried. You’ll need the leverage for the extra weight, especially with the addition of the furler. The pin is tethered to the boom with a stainless steel lanyard so it can’t get lost and it’s always near at hand. I must warn you though, this is a long post, even for me. That system may not work for you and you need an alternative. There are a couple of industrial metal suppliers in my area that sell their cut-offs retail to the public by the pound. At the end of a trip, I never look forward to tearing down Summer Dance, pulling her out of the water, and tying her down for the ride home. It’s the single-handed equivalent of having a crew member in front of the boat pull a line attached to the forestay. It was a cold and very windy day on 10/17/2121. You can see it in action in the last two videos. I need to carefully review your technique but it seems one’s boom would remain upward; although I’m sure you lower it when finished? I added a cleat on the side of the mast about 2 feet up from the base to help. Use a DIY telescoping mast crutch for easier stepping and secure trailering. I assume it will. Either way, it takes quite a bit of strength to get the mast up that first few feet since you’re not pulling directly vertically on the masthead. It may be a ceremonial occasion on a new boat, a necessary step, as in stepping the mast of a small sailing dinghy or gig, or simply routine, as following seasonal maintenance on a sailboat. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time but almost nobody does! The first is the launch checklist that I use to prepare and launch Summer Dance. The rest of the process would work the same. [4][5] A third theory is that corrosion-resistant coins of gold or silver provided a physical barrier minimizing the transmission of rot between the wooden mast and wooden mast step. If you have the tools and the ambition, you could replace your existing tabernacle with a custom made pivoting one. $tingy. Mast steps. You can pin the boom to it similar to how I do it to my bracket. I could not really see a clear picture of it in your videos. I also watch the stays and shrouds to be sure they don’t catch on anything as they raise off the deck. [3] Another theory for this practice is that the insertion of coins in buildings and ships may have functioned as a form of sacrifice thanking the gods for a successful construction, or a request for divine protection in the future. If you’re interested in a fabrication drawing and materials list, keep reading to the end of this post and a special offer. To hold the boom vertical during raising, I use two pieces of pre-tied accessory cord. The mini stays have no place to attach to. Offset to one side a little, you should still be able to use your rudder to steer. Is there already a long, stiff, portable, stick onboard? That’s an excellent question, Jim, since it wasn’t shown on the drawing. I think I will either get some more sail ties for securing the rigging on the trailer, or make up some velcro webbing straps. RE: [freedom21] Mast Step I un-stepped and and stepped my mast about two years ago to add a wind direction indicator and mast top lights, so the memory is a bit fogged by now, but: 1) The L bracket needs to be bolted to the mast and then to the hull. A Centered Mast in 10 Steps. It holds the mast very solid that way. This is the hardest part of the entire rigging process, so be careful, no-one likes … 4. The problem comes when you have to step up onto the cabin top while holding a heavy mast high above your head. Hi, I like your idea of the mast raising system without a gin pole. [ One person lifts ] the mast and positions the heel into the mast step. I like the idea of using PVC tube & fence to make mast supports. That’s awesome, Richie. But I added your email address to the newsletter recipient list back on May 11. "Roman Coins from the River Liri III." I will give your system a try. Can you suggest a structurally sound way to secure the boom to the loop for lifting/lowering? Since the loop is perpendicular to the line of the mast/boom rotation, it won’t work well using only off the shelf parts. After purchasing my Oday 25 in Madison Wisconsin; I needed to transport it to Michigan City, Indiana. That’s a lot of info. 3. He also suggested using a beefier thickness if choosing aluminum just like your suggestion. Mast Steps. How do you step the mast on your trailerable sailboat, with a gin pole? Houghtalin, Liane. As it turns out, it’s really pretty easy to do. Thanks. Wrap it around them from top to bottom before you lower the mast, then handle them as one unit until after you raise the mast again and unwrap the halyard to reconnect the forestay/furler. What if you want to lower the mast to go under a bridge? If you would be kind enough to send a pic of what ever type of pulley system i would greatly appreciate that very much. Well either I’m very weak or i have the vang set up incorrect or my mast is made of different material …when i go to raise my mast it will fall off to one side it just feels as though I’m pulling a truck up a hill. Lay your material centered across the top of the pulpit, trace the railing edges onto the underside of the material, then cut a little at a time until the saddle sits down securely over the rails. I think aluminum would work great so long as the wall thickness of the tubes is adequate. Dear sir My name is Mark Monteverdi. [ Attach the two shrouds ] to the chainplates on the sidedecks. Fasten the webbing at bottom of the E-Z STEP pole around the mast near the base using the buckle. I have a C-25 with swing keel so most of all your tips are applicable, very nice, and handy. I don’t have the lower stays, nor do I have any of the attachment point on the mast that I can see. I found all the sizes I needed with very little cutting. Almost always, I lower the mast without using the boom as a gin pole even if I raised it that way. The other person pulls on the forestay. Underneath the boot there was basically just a huge gap between the mast and the deck with several rubber spacers poked into the hole. I’ll probably shoot out the next one at the end of the month. The original builder asked for a mast "that can take everything" and it looks like it does. Do you use your mainsheet tackle when lowering? That’s why I always have at least one hand on the mast to keep it centered during the lower half of the lift. Your email address will not be published. In the case of a sailboat, it’s just a long, temporary lever. Are you using a gin pole or trying to lift it only by the forestay? Granted , it's a much larger mast, but all the force coming down, caused byt the stays and shrouds WILL keep it in place. Place the E-Z STEP on top of the mast as shown in Figure 1, with lifting ring up and lifting strap with snap on the bottom side. What if you or your crew have a physical impairment that prevents them from performing one of the tasks? In reality, the bow stays stationary and the entire gin pole system including its base (the mast) are raised towards the bow. Join the mast now to the mast foot. The reason that I tie them up at the top of the stanchions is so that the baby stays keep in relatively constant tension throughout the range of motion of the mast/boom. to unstep/step your mast at Cracker Boy Boat Works. Thanks, Mick. Thank you Mark. I don’t think I need that much strength or weight. Then I tie it all down in a few minutes like shown in the first video. My Venture 21 tabernacle and mast look like yours (sans the plate for your swivel blocks) and I have often wondered if there is wear on the trailing edge of the mast foot after repeated raising/lowering? The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. The mast steps come in three basic flavors-fixed, folding and one demountable. Our 75 has a pinned hinge. I’m also looking at the idea from the clever MacGregor 26 mast raising pole that uses a winch on the pole with baby stays with a special one to automatically keep the lowered furler up off the deck. ie. One needs to attach a mast bail with the MacGregor 26 solo mast stepping system. The person supporting the mast guides it into the mast gate. You will also receive occasional newsletters with exclusive info and deals only for followers and the password to the Downloads page. Can we raise and lower the mast single-handed with the main sheet and the boom? Use Your Boat Hook to Sail Faster Downwind, 15 Perished in US Sailing Tragedies in 2018. The boom will then rotate with the mast as it raises and lowers. The mast can wander side to side some until its raised about halfway, then the upper shrouds come taught and keep it centered. "Mast-Step Coins Among the Romans." Where did you find such thin-walled square tubing for your mast stepper? Once the mast is part way up, NEVER WALK BENEATH THE MAST. Here’s a tour of the rig tied down just before I step the mast. Alex. But what if you don’t normally have a second able crew member? The spars should also be supported in the middle by the cabin top. I want to thank you by offering not one, but two free bonuses to my blog followers. Hi. The rest is just pulling the main sheet with one hand while I steady the mast with my other. Stand up the mast. I’ve since revised the drawing to show the hole 2″ up from the bottom of the inner tube. I have looked at the mast rising video countless times. With the trailer winch? You might consider modifying my crutch design so that the bottom end rests in the cockpit sole forward of the transom instead of on the rudder gudgeons. 3. With the mast erect, attach the forestay and forward lower shrouds. Cut slots in the sides for the through bolt to slide up and down. Do the same with the mast on top of your material and you’re done. Thanks! In good conditions (light breeze, level area, or calm water), I skip over using the boom as a gin pole entirely and just use the main sheet to pull the mast up by the forestay. Deck Stepped. I haven’t yet devoted a blog post to it but it was pretty easy to make. The five fixed versions carry twin liabilities. One side of the bracket is bolted through the mast step and the cabin top in front of the mast. that is an ingenious way to raise a mast,nice work ! The second longest run attaches to the top of the gin-pole, snapped to an eyebolt. The usual concurrences for these types of changes, is a stronger grasp of sail and hydrodynamics. The hinge has great strength. The owner of stingysailor.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. Our 76 does not. Step 6 - Mainsheet. If the boat is keel stepped, undo the mast boot at the deck ring and remove any mast chocks(wedges), cross bolts, pins or anything else that might be holding the mast down, i.e. I’d suggest using a main or spinnaker halyard to hold the mast and furler together. I was wondering if you do have the drawings available for it so I could use it to build my own? I’ll have a look at your mast crutch but I can’t use the gudgeons for the rudder as I’ll need to motor over to the Cave Run Lake (KY) boat launch for the haul out. When considering what glue to use for stepping the masts - I recommend using a two-part epoxy for gluing the mast to the deck. If you’re not able to do it by yourself, you might need a helper for at least that part of the setup. I hope you’ve picked up some tips from this post that you can use to optimize your mast stepping system and spend more time on the water. What do you really need once you have the mast bolted to the step? To make it as short as possible, I’ve included five YouTube videos that show how this system works. After ensuring the mast is secure in the mast … Pad the mast at all contact points to prevent damage. Thanks!! To attach the pulley, you can use the U-hook. The longest of the four lines will go to a point as high as you can reach on the mast (secured to a padeye using a stainless snap). How far down is the second hole in the 1″ tubing? If you believe in the rule that you should have a backup for every critical part and system, then you also need a backup mast stepping plan even if you normally step the mast with the factory recommended method. This is my first cruiser (purchased in July) and I’ve much to learn from your blog. Would you like to be notified when I publish more posts like this? The mast step is nearly in-line with the tops of the stanchions, so the cords rotate around the same pivot point as the mast and the boom. The Catalina 22 Owner’s Manual and General Handbook is pretty brief on the subject. You mention the newsletter. With your fingers crossed? Some pretty interesting ideas here, I’m borrowing some, especially related to the sails… Find a piece of heavy gauge aluminum channel that you can cut into a shape similar to the C-22 tabernacle shown in the picture above. A mast crutch would also help in that case.
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