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 Mast Crutch in the way?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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LeighMarie
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USA
188 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/12/2004 :  22:48:04  Show Profile
I built an 8 foot mast crutch to set in the rear of the cockpit to set my mast on while raising it. I also built a very sturdy A-Frame system to raise the mast with. It all worked very well until the mast got almost all of the way up when the backstay, which I have always left attached, "ran" into the mast crutch. (You have never seen nervous people until you saw the look on me, my wife and my brother who was helping when that happened!) We got the crutch down quickly, but the mast was still swayin' up there while we were doing it. Do those of you who use the mast crutch and A-Frame have this problem? I built mine identical to "Bear's Abode" in Tech Tips.
Dave & Sharon on "Leigh-Marie"
Hull #5128
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 04/12/2004 :  22:52:46  Show Profile
When using a crutch, I always drape the backstay through the crutch alongside the mast to prevent the backstay from snagging the crutch on the way up.
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LeighMarie
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USA
188 Posts
Response Posted - 04/12/2004 :  23:21:32  Show Profile
Don, I don't get it. I wondered if I put the mast crutch through the backstay while it's still down so that it basically ends up with the mast crutch sticking through it when the mast is up? Is that what you mean? I have a split backstay and could do that, but it still would be rubbing a lot on each side of the crutch and with the pressure it would almost lift the mast crutch up as it tightened. Or would it?

I also wondered if when I get the mast off the crutch that I collapse it and then finish raising the mast. But, I'm not sure how that theory would work when bringing the mast down. I don't think I could easily stop the mast while I put the crutch back up.
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 04/12/2004 :  23:59:05  Show Profile
Dave,

My mast crutch is positioned inboard of and lashed to the stern rail. With it centered in the cockpit, I do as you stated and have the crutch inside the "V" of the split back stay so when the mast is fully raised the crutch is standing between the split backstay.

While the mast is sitting in the crutch, I lead the backstay from the masthead along the mast and through the "Y" of my crutch right next to the mast. After it is led through the top of the crutch, it is then laid in the cockpit. With this arrangement, the backstay should have less chance of getting fouled on the crutch.
Edited by - dlucier on 04/13/2004 00:00:44
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LeighMarie
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USA
188 Posts
Response Posted - 04/13/2004 :  21:45:18  Show Profile
Don,

That's how I'm going to do it, then. We hope to practice it a few times this weekend as my wife and I would really like to be able to raise and lower the mast with just the 2 of us. It's good to know it will work that way, then. My hunch is that it will be tigher up against the crutch, but we'll remove the crutch before we attach the headstay when it has to be really tight.

We also have to work on the sidesway. Do you have that issue at all? I hope to attach some lines to the mast somehow and be able to deal with them from the cockpit, but it gets very nerve-wracking seeing the mast start to sway off center. It usually sways to the port side for some reason so I'll address that side first.

Thanks again!
Edited by - LeighMarie on 04/13/2004 21:47:04
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.