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Mast-up question/answer

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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/26/2005 : 07:27:44

So, all the talk of late regarding new boats and mast raising ideas. I have yet to raise mine, or get my boat in the water.

It is my intention to build the A-frame system and I have been reading about it and working it out in my head, but one nagging question was always there.

What keeps the a-frame from falling down when you raise the mast? The question was based on what I thought was the purpose of the A-frame, which was to act as a guide for the hailyard to travel through to give a better approach angle to the mast. I just ralized (in a picture) that the hailyard is actually "clipped" to the A-fram and the A-frame acts as sort of a jib-boom (not sure thats the correct term). In other words, the A-frame pivots forward as the mast comes up. WOW! Light bulbs now on! very bright in here.

What a great site. I can not wait to get in the water.

'84, C-25, SR/FK, #4663, "ILLUSIONS", Chazy, NY (Lake Champlain)
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/illusions

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frich
Captain

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USA
418 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 22:16:58

John the system works great, I have built mine and used it myself!! The system prvents sideward motion of the mast. Make sure you use 1" dia. conduit, and the critical dimensions are the nipple pieces that attach to the deck shroud points
Frank

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thaind
Navigator

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Canada
145 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 23:56:02

If you or the PO have installed the up-sized chain plate modification from CD, 1" pipe will not be enough. You will have to go to 1 1/2" pipe.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2005 : 02:15:36

John,
Yes the A fram can fall, but only when the mast is in the lowered position. I use the jib halayard to tie off the A fraim and a rope (line since it is on a boat) going to a pully schackled to the bow, second hole back and the front hole is for the for stay. After getting the mast dropped if you releas either the halyard or the other rope the A fraim can fall if you don't have a hand on it. I have been lucky and the couple of times I wasn't attentive it has always fallen away from me. I can see this as a head knocker if you don't pay attention.
PS it hapened the last time I was raisi9ng the mast as I was getting ready to pull the mast up. I've only done it a couple dozen times but still screw up.

By the way one of the best bits of advice is to be sure you are dillagent about getting everything set up right. I try to always tie the shrouds and stays the same way, and when loosing the turnbuckles I count the number of turns. That way when you set the mast again just tighten the same numbe you loosened. The biggest mess I ever had was when a had a bunch of people helping lower the mast and tie up everything. The person doing this just mixed matched everything together along the mast. I was trying to raise it in the dark the next evening with little success. Now I do a symetrical job down the middle of the mast one bungy for the back stay, one for the for stay -- at the top of he mast ie back of the boat. two bunjies for the back stays, one for the fore says and my center upper stays I leave in my roler tubes along the side of the deck. I think I sent in photos before that may be in the archives.
Hope this helps.

Edited by - on

Garyp
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2005 : 19:43:43

Dear Matt and Brigitte,

I would certainly be interested in viewing your technique. Sounds like you have it down. Even though I hate to admit it, I am changing the mast step on my O'Day 25 to a Catalina 25 mast step so raising the mast will be easier. D. Martin

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Garyp
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2005 : 19:44:43

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2005 : 11:16:07

IMHO, the most important aspect of raising/lowering a mast is to know your rigging. What allowed me to get comfortable with this task, was confidence in knowing where all the rigging should be when the mast was half way down or on its way up. Using an A-frame makes light work of raising and lowering. Walking the mast up will get it done in less than half the time.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2005 : 11:40:04

> "most important aspect of raising/lowering a mast is to know your rigging... confidence in knowing where all the rigging should be when the mast was half way down or on its way up"

IMHO: Stampeder has it nailed.

Tangled, jammed, bound rigging or fittings is your nemisis when mast raising. The stainless wire, turnbuckles etc. have a mind of their own and will find all sorts of devious ways to confound you... typically with the mast halfway up.

What's even worse is to have the mast all the way up and discover you've bent a swaged wire fitting or turnbuckle in the process. (been there done that)

That's why I always raise with minimal rigging connected.
Typically aft lowers and (optionally) the backstay.

Even with aft lowers alone, as soon as the raising line or forestay is snubbed off the mast has a triangular 'base' and can't go anywhere. Then you can connect the rest of the stays 'at your leisure'.

I mark the turnbuckle threads with a 'Sharpie' (semi-indelible marker) before I slack them off so re-setting is easy.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2005 : 19:22:06

One of the things that has happened to me was a lower stay getting stuck between the steps and the galley wall! I put the lowers into the cabin to "keep them out of the way"! After 2 attempts , I could get the mast no further than 3/4 the way up. After carefull examination, I cried DOH!
Now, I disconnect the lowers and tie them to the mast where I can keep an eye on em.

Tom.

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2005 : 15:50:32

Here are a few photos of my mast raising last year.

I always remove the motor for towing any long distance. I lay a bit of cardboard on the seat and rest the motor on that, tying it off with dock lines.

This is the lower position for my mast up. I have a mid position and a high position. Honestly I usually use the mid positon for raising or lowering. I'm thinking of drilling a second hole making it a little higher.

This is the foot of the mast tied off for travel

Thats all I can find for now.
hope it helps a little

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2005 : 21:55:06

As the mast swings up the A frame pivots down. Mast full up the A frame lies down. Build mine out of 1" electrical conduit and a few bolts.

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georgiaboater
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2005 : 00:05:49

Other than "Cindy" and "Dennis" messing up my rigging and sailing mid summer....I think we (team and I) have the A-frame deal figured out....using the system before that fateful 10 days. We secured the jib halyard to an upper bolt that holds the tip of the A frame together. Then secured a 3/8 line just a little lower on the neck of the A frame then through a block/pulley on the bow and back to a wench by the cockpit. By doing this the A frame never collapsed back on mast as it was raised. Once the mast was raised it was simply held in place until the forestay was attached and then of course attaching the the upper and forward lower shrouds was a peace of cake.

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