Solo Mast Stepping - again

I still get the occasional request for this mast stepping system so here it is again and email me for pictures if you wish.

SIMPLE Mast Stepping (solo) - a piece of p..s even for this lightweight:D
So easy, that after a couple of times you will not risk having someone help ever again! All it takes is a bit of practice to develop the TECHNIQUE.

1. Get an extended 'Y' piece for the rear of your trailer, 8/9ft. Keep it handy in your
sail box.
2. Pull the cat around so it's back to back with the trailer.
3. Position the mast and insert the pin. Upper section of mast resting in
the 'Y' with the tang clear of the 'Y' and closer to the cat to avoid tangle/complications. Be sure all wires are free and ready to raise and be sure your rollers are DIRECTLY under the rear beam for balance when you step up there! The mast is easier to raise when the cat is tilted forward.
4. Attach a thin rope to the front stay, ABOVE the wire extension, down thru a pulley on the end the chainplate and back thru one of your jib cleats on the front beam.
5. Step up on the tramp and, with your weight on the rear beam, lift the mast up and forward, (easy to do even for a babe!). Set it in position (with a jerk) and you can hold it with one hand while you bend down to cleat the rope with the other. Be sure it's SECURE before jumping down to pin the chainplate. Do it with the wind BEHIND you if it's blowing strong!
Do it all in REVERSE for lowering, cleating your rope TIGHT before releasing the bridle. Then just jump up and hold the mast with one hand, release the rope from the cleat with the other, step back to the rear beam while easing the mast down (with both hands) onto the 'Y'.
AND a tip – if/when your stepping link breaks (as it will eventually) it may still be good if it has split lengthways – two separate sets of holes are more flexible and will last you many more years. Use a short, thin screwdriver for a pin – much better than the Hobie pin and easier to remove because of the handle.

Is there a way to post pics? I am very interested...but somewhat challenged apparently in the above 3rd grade reading comprehension dept...thanks!
john

_________________
'92 H-17 Sport

I can send you the photos but am I being insulted here?
I am very interested...but somewhat challenged apparently in the above 3rd grade reading comprehension dept.

Sorry for the confusion, no insult intended. A picture is worth a thousand words and I'm relatively unfamiliar with sailing and my new Hobie 17 so any help is appreciated. I am finding I am available to sail more than my friends so being able to go by myself would be great. Also, I realized that the 17 was not really meant for more than one person. I have most of it figured out, except the mast stepping. If you would prefer to email I would appreciate that also.

Again, thanks for the help, sorry if it came accross wrong.

Cheers,
John
[email protected]

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'92 H-17 Sport

G'day John,
I'd love to try a H17 - 16 is good and 18 is a bit too big for me going solo - even with a dog.
Pics and info attached - it's a piece 'o piss! John
And.....Turn up the sound : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1G9FpnTIOI

It looks to me like the above suggestion may require that the boat be off the trailer in order to step the mast (?).

In my case, I've found that stepping the mast is not a back breaking endeavor unless stepping from a trailer (which is what I do).

My single handed mast raising solution finally included a tripod with a hand crank.

Three things are needed:
1. If not already present, you need to put a cleat at the base of the mast.
(ie. http://www.murrays.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MS&Product_Code=01-1019&Category_Code=
2. You need a tripod (shown below)
3. You need to use the mail sail halyard line (this will hold the mast up while you go around to connect the forestay)


Tripod that I purchased: (except I took off the horizontal bars below the top bar):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/407160-REG/On_Stage_LS7805B_Power_Crank_Up_Lighting_Stand_.html

The tripod is nice to have anyway because you can rest the mast on it while getting ready to step.

Step:
1. With the boat on the trailer, get the mast ready to step: the mast pin in place at the mast base, and the mast tip pointing behind the boat (resting on the tripod).
2. Take the twist shackle at the end of the halyard line and attach it to the bridle wires (front at the front of boat). [When the mast is upright, the halyard will be fixed to the bridle wires and then follow its normal course over the top of the mast, then down the mast under the pulley at the mast base and onto the tramp.]
3. Move the tripod so it is supporting the mast fairly close to the back of the trampoline.
4. Turn the crank on the tripod and raise the mast up to 7 to 10 feet. [Note: I put a life jacket over the horizontal tripod bar to keep it from scratching the mast.] Then get up on the tramp; lift the mast the rest of the way. It is not particularly difficult to lift once the tripod has elevated it. Once it is vertical, continue to lean forward into it but it will be quite stable there.
5. With one hand, reach down onto the tramp and grab the loose end of the halyard line coming from the base of the mast and pull it tight so that it is pulling on the bridle wires. When this line is tight, it will support the mast.
6. Cleat this line to the mast cleat.
7. Get off the boat, go forward and attach the forestay.
8. Release the halyard.

The downside of this method is the need to purchase a tripod: but it folds up nicely and helps hold the mast when it's dangling out behind the boat so I like it for that as well.
The benefit is that you don't need to deal with ropes/bungees to deal with side-to-side mast sway during mast lift and you're not using any particularly fancy contraptions that are time consuming to set up (aka the old "mast stepper" gin pole contraptions).

_________________
Adam
e-mail: ab at medjet.net
H17S, Hobie Bravo, A cat
Fleet 444

System used for years with my H-17. Raising mast with boat on trailer. Have post on trailer, for mast support, located vertically at front crossbar. Post has support for mast in carring position, stops for crossbar, and jam cleat used for mast raising. Attach line to one of the trap lines, run thru small block at trailer tounge, back to tramp. Raise mast, take up slack in line, and tie off at jam cleat. Attach bridle, release line. Reverse on take down. One person operation. If you can raise the mast, simple operaton.
Caleb Tarleton

Can pictures from my computer be posted here? I've been on forums for a long time but don't recognize this format. I found the insert image button but still working on how to use it. I took some pictures of my trailer. ....off to read FAQ

First picture that is hard to tell what it is, is the rear mast carrier. It has a "bow roller" for a boat trailer to support the mast at the back and roll it back to afix to the mast step. The picture of the front of the trailer shows the A-frame which is attached to a winch with just the right length of line out the rear with a snap hook that grabs a couple of the trap wires to winch the mast up. This leaves the forestay free to attach to the furler.

http://s697.photobucket.com/albums/vv33 ... =slideshow

The physics of mast stepping/raising are kind of interesting, IMHO.

The only thing I am certain about so far is that those who do a "clean and jerk" method of mast stepping without some kind of "safety-net" support system/guy-wires to stabilize the lift shouldn't try it in a crowded parking lot.

JJ point well taken. But just as important with the "safety-net" systems, which can also fail. Always check area around the boat on all sides when raising and lowering mast. My preference is to NOT allow someone to catch the mast when lowering. On the H-17, the mast step ball, can and has jumped out when lowering the mast. Much better to drop the mast then to drop it on someone.

Caleb Tarleton

I use an electric winch to raise/lower the mast. DC powered. It works pretty well for one man operation. It's easy, fast, safe. It works well for me--I don't always have an extra set of hands around. I"m sure we've all dropped a mast--I"m really glad no one was standing back there when it fell. Thw winch bolts on and off quickly, too.

I considered an electric winch. Especially after seeing the setup shown in the pic down below from a post at catsailor. Which one are you using?

Haven't been able to find one that is reversible except the Grip 12 winch, which is in short supply...

The best part of the electric winch idea is that you could attach a remote switch to a long cable. Then the mast can be guided up while letting the winch do the work. Most importantly for me, the mast could be paused at any point. Then hold or reverse raising without problem (if the mast is correctly supported for side-sway).

The electric winch is about as cheap as anything else. The only downside is attaching the cables. Would prefer to plug it in to the brake/turn signal setup but not sure it can stand the amps...

Superwinch 2000 lb capacity. I bolt it to where you have the block in your pic. I have 2 cats-H17 and Nacra 5.0. Both have a yoke type strut at the rear of the trailer. I rest the mast on that, hook the winch all up, hold the mast with one hand and press the remote with the other(the remote is wired, not wireless). Takes less than 10 seconds to lift the mast. Very safe. I use a carabiner, not the BIG hook the winch comes with. The winch is power in and power out, so it lowers just as well. I hook the cables to the battery--I bet it might work thru an outlet at the rear of the SUV. The only pain is the length of electric cable--takes more than you think. I just checked--Amazon has what looks like my winch on sale for $75.

Thanks for reply. I will look at it.

Had to post these links because they started me laughing --

Cordless winch buddy!
But, for only $2K, you too can have the cordless cutting-edge winch handle!