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Stepping the mast for the first time!

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/13/2003 : 14:47:54

Hello all,

Tomorrow I'm going to step the mast for the first time ever, if I can coordinate getting my brothers to assist me, that is. Assuming my family will be agreeable, tomorrow looks like it will be the day. Needless to say, I'm somewhat nervous about the whole procedure. My last boat was 21 feet long, with a mast that my wife and I could step. This one seems SOOOOO much bigger and heavier. I'm just a little guy. So I'm going to use the method in the C25 owners manual on this website. I'm using this method because it seems simple enough for even me to figure out, plus it's very similar to the way my old sailboat's mast was stepped. The method is shown below for those who are interested.

Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations, warnings, ANYTHING that could prevent me from totally screwing this up?

Thanks a lot,

Ben

STEPPING THE MAST:

Caution: The mast and other metal parts conduct electricity. Coming in contact with or near an electrical power line or lightning can cause severe injury or death. Stay away from overhead electrical power lines when sailing and/or launching the boat.

When trailering your boat always try to undo as little rigging as possible. Before lowering the mast, it is only necessary to undo the two forward lower shrouds and the forestay.

1. Before raising the mast, make sure halyards are neatly tied down and that they are on proper sides of the spreaders. You should never attempt to raise the mast unless the upper shrouds (those that pass over the spreaders) and the aft lower shrouds, are attached to the deck fittings and the turnbuckles are well "started• into their barrels by at least 3/4 of an inch. The turnbuckles must not be completely tightened however, because slack is needed in the shrouds to enable the mast to be fully raised. The backstay should be attached to the transom chainplate. The upper shrouds, aft lower shrouds, and backstay will keep the mast from falling over when it is raised. Therefore, all of these must be attached to the chainplates before the mast is raised. Check that the spreaders are secure and that spreader boots or tops are secure.

2. Make sure that the shrouds and stays are not fouled. Backstay should lie clear of the transom. You may step the mast on land or while the boat is in the water. It seems to be easier on land because the boat is stable. Also, it keeps other sailors from getting impatient while they wait for you to move out of the launch area.

3. Walk the mast aft and drop the mast foot into the tabernacle located on top of the deck, keeping the mast in center line of boat, insert the pivot bolt and locking nut. At this time, you should check that all the mast lights are functioning properly.

4. One crew member should pull on a line tied securely to the forestay while another pushes up on the mast and walks from the cockpit forward. With the mast erect, attach the forestay and forward lower shrouds.

IMPORTANT: Be careful not to twist the mast or allow it to move to one side of centerline while raising the mast, as this may cause the mast step to break.

Ben
Adventurous
#5553
C25 SR/SK

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2003 : 15:21:07

Ben -

Forgive me for not reading your post entirely. I am probably repeating some of the exact things mentioned there...Here is what we do - (it is without any aids like some other members have devised and is easy to follow)

1. Check to make sure all the stuff is on the right side of the mast etc. etc.spreaders/shrouds wired, taped etc. etc.

2. We start from the Bow, (its the only real difference to what the book said...we found it is easier while on jack stands) Put the Mast into the tabernacle and attach the bolt (loosely for now) We also do one last quick test of the bulbs in the mast head light, deck light and the steaming light at this time. It is the last chance to easily change bad bulbs.

3. Attach the uppers and the forestay. Give a guy in the Cockpit the aftstay. Guys on the bow lift and walk the mast aft...slowly. when upright attach the stern and all the lowers. Tighten the bolt and put a cotter ring through it (if it has a hole for one)


REGARDLESS OF THE DIRECTION YOU GO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT SOMEONE (PREFERABLY WHO IS NOT DOING ANY LIFTING) WATCH THE TWO UPPER TURNBUCKLES (AND/OR ANY LOWERS YOU MIGHT HAVE ATTACHED PRIOR TO STEPPING...your notes I beleive refers to some being attached)TO MAKE SURE THEY GO UP STRAIGHT. 

A 30 foot mast provides a lot of torque on the turnbuckles if they are crooked and not allowed to pivot properly.

We did the entire thing this year with 3 guys....it took no time at all.

dw

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2003 : 17:54:53

There is an easy way to avoid the situation that Duane warned about in big, scary red letters. Use a very thin rubber band to tie each of your shrouds loosely to the lifelines, so that the shrouds will go up straight as the mast is raised. When you raise the mast, and they become taut, the rubber bands will break, and you will not bend the screws or turnbuckles on your shrouds.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2003 : 13:38:25

Well we put the mast up during lunch hour (a long lunch hour), and it went pretty smoothly. I tried the trick with the rubber bands tying the shrouds to the lifelines, but two of them broker before we put the mast up. Fortunately the turnbuckles didn't torq out of shape. Nothing terrible happened, so I'm very much relieved. I'm going to go back a little later and make sure the mast is still up.

Duane and Steve, thanks for your help.

Ben
Adventurous
#5553
C25 SR/SK

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2003 : 14:20:16

I'm going to go back a little later and make sure the mast is still up.

Ben
Adventurous
#5553
C25 SR/SK


Oh man, can I relate to that! When I launched my boat for the first time I hardly slept that night for fear my boat was going to sink. When I drove to the marina the next day I was scared to death I was going to see a mast sticking up out of the water! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

BTW, if you are going to raise and lower your mast on a regular basis, I highly recommend the A-frame mast-raising gizmo. I built one similar to this:

http://c25c250.best.vwh.net/restricted/bearsad1.html

This is the first sailboat I've ever owned ... I've never had anyone help me with the mast, and thanks to the A-frame, I've never needed help.

Congratulations on getting your mast up ... 'can't wait to hear your report on your first sail!

Buzz Maring
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df23b3127cce9306a9b3abad0000001010" border=0>
~~Freya~~
C-25 SK/SR #68

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2003 : 14:40:37

Having read about all the problems of bent turnbuckles (and having found a bent one in the drawer down below) I decided to put my mast up using the "brute force" method. We taped all the shrouds to the mast except the forestay. Three guys pushed the mast up, and another pulled on the forestay. When we got it to 90 degrees, one guy went around and attached all the wires. I don't necessarily recommend that approach, as the mast felt unstable when we were holding it up there.

Bruce Baker
"Yee Ha"

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2003 : 18:39:11

Today, my brother and I muscled my mast up(he pulled, I pushed) and I believe its getting heavier. Thankfully this doesn't happen to often.

To aid in raising the mast, my brother brought one of his theatrical lighting tripods which was set in the cockpit and used to lift the mast a little passed halfway up(This is the hard part). Once the mast was partially raised this way, he grabbed the forestay w/furler and I got my shoulder under the mast on the cabintop and with a quick motion, raised the mast the rest of the way.

With that done, its bottom paint tomorrow, followed by splash on Friday. That's if the planets are in full alignment and the weather gods look favorably on me.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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steephen
Navigator

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100 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2003 : 16:17:14

I too am going to raise my mast for the first time. Question: After one puts the bolt in and raises the stick, how does the mast weight become distributed? It can't "rest" on the tabernacle bolt itself?

Stephen Z

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2003 : 16:28:36

The bolt should have the wingnut on, but not be tightened before raising the mast. Tighten after.

After the mast is up the weight is on the mast step (tabernacle), which in turn is on the compression post, which is on the keel.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2003 : 22:00:46

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>After one puts the bolt in and raises the stick, how does the mast weight become distributed? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

As John stated, the mast bolt is loosely secured while raising the mast, because it will move from the top of the tabernacle slot to the bottom of the slot once the mast is raised. Once the mast is raised, its full weight is now on the mast step.

I've found the hardest part in stepping the mast is raising the mast from horizontal to about 50 degrees. After that 50 degree point the mast is not a problem, because it gets lighter(the weight is now going on the mast step) and the shrouds are keeping it centered.

Before that point, though, the mast is heavy, unweildly, and can swing anywhere. After muscling up my mast the other day using a tripod, my brother had an idea to get the mast up to the 50 degree point with very little effort and with potentially more stability.

His idea was to get a 24ft extension ladder and put it on the ground at the stern, lash it to the boat, and then set the mast on the top rung between the ladder rails. Next, using a multipart purchase, extend the ladder up to its maximum extension. When it gets to the top, the ladder will lock in place allowing the crew to simply raise it the rest of the way. I may try this the next time I raise/lower my mast.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2003 : 23:11:36

Me and the crew stepping the mast!

<img src="http://www.webtravels.com/iwojima/Post1.jpg" border=0><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2003 : 23:30:52

Don - nice to see that you followed OSHA regs and wore hard hats...!
BTW - a lot of the C22 racers use a piece of extendable angle iron as a mast crutch which fits into the gudgeons (with the rudder removed of course!) The mast is dropped into this crutch and then the crutch is extended to about 15' above ground (the boat is still on the trailer). This gets it past the "difficult" area and from there it's easy to walk it up. Yes, I know the C22 mast is a lot lighter but Don's method reminded me of the C22's technique.
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>
TRFK#2262"This Side Up"

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steephen
Navigator

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100 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2003 : 12:02:51

Thanks for the info, boys. I'm going to try to raise the mast soon, probably with the extension ladder routine. Also with a few extra hands...
Stephen Z. "Little Wing"

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