Can I leave my 1981 H16 mast stepped all summer?

I just bought my first ever boat of any kind - 1981 Hobie 16.

It is a bit difficult for me to step the mast alone, in fact, I haven't been able to do it. I can do it easily with a second person, but I don't always have a second person around.

Can I leave the mast stepped and leave it all summer long? I am 2 driving miles to the lake I'll be using it at, all power lines in my neighborhood are buried (so nothing overhead) and it is 25MPH the whole way.

I'd really like to leave it stepped not only so I can take it solo to the lake, but also to save time every time I go sailing, but I'm not sure if the drive will put too much stress on the stays and if there could be another problem I don't know about. Max winds can reach 70mph during a thunderstorm at my house. Obviously I won't have my sails up for that, just the mast.

2 mile drive with the mast up at 25mph? That seems super sketchy to me. I wouldn't be as worried about the boat as I would be about the legality of driving around with a 30 foot high pole sticking up. Power lines, trees, bridges.... I think if a cop saw it you would have some explaining to do, but that's just me.

Anyway, to answer your question, it would not overstress the boat to leave the mast up, but you are still probably a lot better off buying or developing a solo mast raising system or finding a friend to bring along.

The other thing to consider is that if you are not big or strong enough to raise theast solo, then you are probably also not big or strong enough to right the boat solo.

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Parked at a marina with the mast up? Sure.

Driving it down the road, any distance, with the mast up? Absolutely not.

ThebigZ - I agree with both Tom & SRM. Driving with the mast up for 2 miles is a bad idea! Some people raise the mast solo. I've done it several times in the past but I'd rather get some help from a second person. About 50% of the time I have to raise the mast before my crew arrives, so I just find someone walking by the launch ramp and ask them to help me for about 2 minutes; I'll do the heavy lifting; I just need another set of hands. Isn't there some foot traffic where you launch? Even another boater can help you. You just need 1 person to help you for about 2 minutes.

Thanks for the replies. I'll leave the mast down when not in use. I only got the boat a week ago, hopefully I'll figure out how to step the mast alone. I'm 6'4" 190, so I don't think being too small is my problem. Just need more experience

Where is the difficulty in stepping the mast that you're having? is it the connecting of things after you raise it by yourself or is it just getting the mast up by yourself?

If its the former use the jib halyard connected to your forestay adjuster to secure the mast while you connect the forestay. You might have to tie on some extra length of line to the jib halyard when you do this. Just cleat it in once the mast is up and your safe to connect the forestay. Having something under the top of the mast so the mast is approximately level with the ground helps get things started.

If its the later then for $200 you can make things really easy. I posted this not to long ago in the Hobie 16 section, but if you really want to be able to step the past alone and can't do it yourself let a machine do it for you. I got a small ATV winch with a wireless remote, 10 gauge wire, 10 gauge quick disconnects, a 2x8, and some hardware. I mounted the winch on my trailer, used the quick disconnects and wire to run power from my truck battery, and the wood and hardware to make a gin pole. If you are interested in doing this setup I can post more detailed instructions later.



I don't use this to step my mast when I have someone that can help. Its not nearly as fast, but its great for when I don't have proper help, and takes a lot of risk out of doing it without help.

If your issue is something else please explain further. We probably have a solution for you.

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Catamaran Racing Association of Michigan - Marketing Officer
USF18 - Social Media Manager

2010 NACRA Infusion
2004 F18 Hobie Tiger - SOLD
Hobie 16 - BREAKPOINT - SOLD

If you have a relatively flat area and can lift the mast without trouble, solo mast stepping is easy without any special equipment or even a winch. I'm 5-9 and 170 and routinely step my 16. I use a piece of line with a shackle on the end. With the mast laying on the boat, I hook the shackle on the front of the forestay and loop the line over the bridle and back to the tramp. Put the loose end of the line in a pocket or through a belt loop, raise the mast and pull the line tight around the bridle. Cleat the line on one of the halyard cleats, carefully hop off, pin the forestay at the bridle chain plate , remove the line and the step link pin and you're good to go!

Hope this is helpful,

Dave

I do something similar to the above. I have an eye bolt on my mast stand on the trailer. An extra rope with a hook similar to a safety chain hook only smaller. I feed the line through the eyebolt and hook the forestay adjuster on an extra pin. run the end of the line up onto the tramp. When you are ready to raise make sure you have the end of the line in a pocket or around your waist. Raise the mast and tie off the rope on the down haul cleat. You can then get down and connect the forestay adjuster to the bridle wires. You just reverse the operation when lowering..
Also I have found it best to have the frame of the boat either level or low in front as the mast will drop into place without a hitch. Don't climb up and down off the boat by stepping on the hull, as it will end up causing a soft spot. Better to have a 3' step ladder to climb onto the boat when it's on the trailer.

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JKK
83 yellow/ white decks Hobie 14 Corando turbo
82 yellow hulls Hobie 16 Cat Fever
84 yellow hulls hobie 16 Yellow Nationals
plus a few extras that I'm restoring

I don't know if you ever same this video, but Matt Miller from Hobie shows what everyone is writing about above. At about five minutes in, he shows how to step the mast solo. Here's the video. http://youtu.be/jxctIJVOAd0


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