Here is how I step the mast solo with a homemade gin pole

My father-in-law made this awesome gin pole for me to help me step the mast solo. I was using a 3 ft 2x4 board, and he knew how to make it much better. The mast stays still while it is
propped up on the gin pole- very stable. Hope this video helps!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOUqUosH ... ata_player

I think you might want to re-think this system. One puff of wind, mis-step, or bounce on the trailer and that prop-rod/gin pole is going to pop out and the mast is going to come crashing down. I think you definitely need to secure the prop rod to the boat & mast much more securely than what you're currently doing. Some folks use a step ladder to achieve the same thing you're doing but in a much more stable way.

Same with the way you're tying the mast up. If that line slips down, the mast is going to come crashing down. You'd be much better off using the main halyard to hold the mast up. Tie the forward end of the main halyard to the forward crossbar or trailer mast stand, lift the mast up, and then pull the slack out of the halyard and cleat off on one of the jib cleats or the downhaul cleat (you may need to add an extension line to the halyard to get it to reach). Then you can connect the forestay.

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Oh no...no...no. You're just going to end up hurting yourself, someone else, or the boat. Do it right and get a Mast Stepper III and be safe.

Using the main halyard and jib cleats works great. You might give that a try some time.

Yeah, using the halyard sounds like a much better idea, I will give that a try.

Two questions: Do you have a bob on the top of the mast?
Are you located in Michigan, and if so, where?

_________________
Dave

Yes and yes. I am in Allen Park.

E-mail me. l'm in Commerce Twp. [email protected]

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Dave

Whoa locals! I'm up in Hartland.

Our H16's former owner walked me through his solo stepping process, and we've been doing that. We have a cheeta mount and a short mount pole that goes on the bracket to provide that first 2 feet of lift and trailer support for the mast. Maybe some long automotive (heavy strength) Velcro could make your pole more steady--lock it in with a loop around the cross bar and a loop around the mast. It would be quick to place and remove once you get you on the boat, and keep that gin pole from separating should it bounce as you climb up.

On our rig there is an extra shackle on the jib foot above the adjuster. We take a line with a snap shackle and clip it to that, run it through a block on the trailer and then through a jib cam cleat. After raising the mast the same way, I just reach down pull the line tight, lock it in, walk to the from, pull the jib a bit, fasten it, and then collect the line.