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Lowering mast on 25ft. swing keel while on trailer

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tblanco
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/26/2002 : 01:15:43

Work on my trailer is coming along rapidly and I should be able to place my boat on it sooner than expected.
I sudenly realized I've never brought a mast down on a boat this size.
I've done it on catamarans and smaller silboats using pure muscle!
Anyone out there have a good safe method for this task.
I've thought of using some puley system, What do you guys think?

P.S. Thanks to all who gave me tips on working on my trailer and to
Frank Rich for recently mailing me photos of his trailer. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 01:41:57

Three of us muscled the mast in place on North Star at the beginning of the season. It wasn't terribly difficult, but it is not something I would like to do that often. This forum had a pretty good discussion about this a while ago. Check out this link to the topic and feel free to post any questions you may have.

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1063

Don Lucier, North Star
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 01:56:38

Hi there,

Probably the easiest thing to do in the short run is to get another person or two and muscle it down. However, in the long run you might be interested in a system like the "Huntington Rig," or an A-frame gizmo like the owner of "Bears Abode" built. I tried to post links to both of those ideas from the Tech Tips, but I can't get it to work ... I hope that info isn't lost!

Anyway, I opted for building an A-frame system similar to the "Bears Abode" gizmo, but I haven't tried it yet (I took it to the boat a couple of weeks ago intending to raise the mast, and I couldn't find a single damn clevis pin <img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle> ... they are now on backorder from Catalina Direct). I wish the link worked, 'cause I could blather on forever trying to describe the thing, and this is a case where a picture would be worth a thousand words.

It's really late, and I am so brain dead tired right now, I think I'll see if the Tech Tips are accessible tomorrow so I can post the links for you. If that doesn't work, I'll see if I can borrow a friend's digital camera and take some photos within the next week to show you what I'm talking about.

'More later ... good luck!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 03:10:34

I have only had the boat a year in July but have raised and lowered the mast atleast 6 times already. Last monday I had the boat ready to put in the water within an hour, and I wasn't pushing it, and a part of that was by myslef. It can be done and is not that hard.

dropping the mast last Sunday there was a group lowering their mast forward using the boom as a gin pole. I think I had mine lowered and ready to trail before they did, but I didn't time it. I also think that lowering to the rear you have most of the mast over the boat for moving to trailering position.

I took a bunch of photos of setting up last Monday, but haven't had them developed yet. Will post when ready.

Step one: remove boom and all that stuff, I left the sail on and shoved it under the fordeck.

Step two: loosen lower fore and upper shrouds, and I loosened my back stay too. Count the turns, I used 15, when you raise the mast tighten the same number and your mast should be tooned. Remove the forward lower shroud. Loosen bolt at base of mast.

Step three: attach jib halyard to a cleat on the tip of the bow. My halyards are lead from mast to deck organizers and back to a winch on the cabin top. crank down on the halyard, this will releive tension on the forstay. Have one person on the halyard the other releases the forstay. Forstay person now comes back to the mast and pulls down. -- I have a crutch that I swap with the rudder during step one, I coppied the design from Catalina Direct and my neighbor and I put it together. it is a tube in a tube that attaches to the gudgons and has a roller on top, to raise the mast I tie this to the cabin top to act as a support to lower I do not tie. The crutch is extended about 8 feet up and can be easily lowered. This lets me do the whole job with just two people. -- Two people on the mast and one on the halyard should be enough to lower the mast, halyard person has the easy job and can leave it to help the others if needed.

Step 4: remove bolt from base of mast, I keep mine in my boat tool box with an extra one just in case.

Step 5: Slide mast forward and tie down. For the front I rig up a harness with a dock line so that the mast is suspended from the bow pulpit. Hold mast between knees and run a rope from one side of the B.P. to other and loop back. tie around the mast too. this ties the mast securlly, and is a lower height. Height is not as inportant to a swinger, but I have a fixed keel. Tie up all the wires as you see fit and you are ready to roll.

Raising the mast is essentially just the reveirse of this.
<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
Good luck

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 15:14:02

We raise and lower our mast with the boat in the water - if someone should loose their balance . . . one person holds the forestay and two work the mast.

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2002 : 14:02:23

Well, thanks to Mark Melchior, we have the Tech Tips section again ... thanks Mark!

Here is the "Huntington Rig": http://c25c250.best.vwh.net/restricted/nymastup.html

and here is the gizmo that the owner of "Bear's Abode" built: http://c25c250.best.vwh.net/restricted/bearsad1.html

As I mentioned earlier, I opted to build the "Bear's Abode" gizmo along with the crutch for holding the mast at the stern.

Good luck!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

goodone
1st Mate

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USA
48 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2002 : 21:34:08

Since my wife and I dry sail the boat exclusively, we both raise and lower the mast every time we sail...we have it down to a science and she's NOT some big body builder type female...try our method.
First, you'll need to purchase or make a rear mast support similar to the "mast up" thats in the Catalina Direct catalog, the taller the better.Now, install a heavy duty type block that you'll leave attached at an extra hole up front where the forestay attaches.Put a "quick release" type clip on a length of extra halyard line or something similar,clip one end on the bottom of the forestay and run the line thru the block, and back to your jib winch, around the drum and cleat it off.
Next,remove the mains'l and boom, loosen the backstay,and remove the forward lower shrouds.Now, remove the headstay, but remember that the line you clipped on keeps the mast from falling.Go to the back of the mast,let it slowly come back down, while your helper is the "brakes" on the line while slowly letting it out.Ease it down, and before you know it, it's down resting on the mast support!
Raising it is the opposite, but now your helper uses the winch for leverage to help you lift it up! It's SO easy...my wife and I can rig or de-rig our boat each time in 30 minutes.....good luck!

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