Association Forum - (NOT) dropping the mast while on jackstands

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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

(NOT) dropping the mast while on jackstands

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2013 : 14:43:27

I suspect that the yard manager's reluctance to let you drop the mast is due to liability / insurance issues. Mast raising and lowering is always a tricky business, and I have personally witnessed three accidents (one on my own boat!) during mast raising on a trailer. Damage was major ($4000) on one of those incidents, minor (<$500) on the other two. Jackstands are less stable than a trailer; if anything goes seriously wrong, the boat could actually fall off the jackstands, whereas this is pretty much impossible on a trailer unless something catastrophic happens like a blown tire causing the rig to jackknife at freeway speed.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5416 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2013 : 18:10:20

That may be true, but today I was at the boat yard and two yard guys were working under a 20' x 10' section of dock hanging by straps from the giant forklift. They were both lying on the ground under the dock attaching plastic floats to the underside and as they added floats, the rear end of the forklift started to rise - imperceptibly at first - then the rear wheels got lighter and lighter.
I was watching from afar - and I ran towards them hollering. Another guy noticed about the same time. We got the two guys out before disaster happened.
I reckon that's one reason why they are trying to minimize risks - these guys are walking catastrophes!

Edited by - Voyager on 04/08/2013 18:11:46

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2013 : 20:15:29

Ya, not many engineering degrees on the premises... (...except yours, Bruce!)

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5416 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2013 : 20:19:41

I thought I was watching a Harold Lloyd or a Mack Sennett movie - you know the type where the front of a house falls down on a guy and he happens to be standing right where the open window falls? Walks away dazed but unharmed …

Edited by - Voyager on 04/09/2013 20:20:59

Arlington
Navigator

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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 21:18:30

Bruce watching Davy step his mast, makes it look soooo easy. I have helped four fellow sailors about a dozen times. With the A-frame it can truly be easy. I am still cautious, but initially I was terrified that I or some other poor soul would be squished like a bug. Done properly, with no breeze, or with any breeze at all, with the boat pointed close into the wind, you are lowering the mast by releasing the tension on the forestay via the A-frame, a block and one of the aft winches. You can feed it out with your fingers, don't let go of the line, but you will be amazed at; how easily it comes down, how you can stop and start at will...

But...I have helped, or seen it go bad three times. Almost always because someone that is well intentioned helps and does the wrong thing, pulls at the wrong angle or uses a truck to pull on a line, and gets the mast off center-then there is an uncontrolled, rapid, lowering of the mast that is disturbing at best.

My recommendation is to FIRST, just go watch someone do it right at least a couple of times, BEFORE you help someone step their, or your mast. Then make or get a good A Frame, with the correct rigging and DIY to your hearts content.

It would be worth it to even travel a few hours to go watch or help someone else that is experienced. Opportunities to watch or help a friend with stepping a Catalina 22 could also be very helpful, particularly since it has a smaller, more manageable and lighter mast with similar standing rigging.

I will agree your yard guy either doesn't want to mess with it, or he is leery of you messing with it, in his yard.

Doug

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5416 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2013 : 21:00:37

I've done the mast on my 16 foot daysailor countless times and have helped C22 sailors in my mooring area drop their masts on their trailers and at the dock. Somehow, because the C25 mast is a little heavier, a little longer and more unwieldy I've grown a healthy respect for it. Needs to be controlled all the way down, and of course all the way back up!

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2013 : 08:27:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 ...Needs to be controlled all the way down...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I watched helplessly from a distance somebody who didn't understand that mechanical advantage is rapidly lost as the the line used for lowering (like a halyard) gets close to parallel with the mast--starting somewhere around 45 degrees if not before. (The ending was scary!) A gin pole and/or several sets of hands are a really good idea.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.