Tool / Contraption / Rigging to single-handedly raise mast

Is there a tool or contraption available for single-handedly raising the mast? How about some kind of rigging arrangement that makes it possible to raise the mast more easily, even if you have two people? Looking for something simple and affordable.

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Broward County, FL
1984 Hobie 16, Olympic Edition (kept in NY)

This has been discussed in many threads here and I think you can search and find a lot of information. If you are physically able to raise the mast alone, all you need to do is tie an extension on the jib halyard about 8' long and tie the other end to the bridle. Raise the mast and lean into it as you reach down and uncleat the halyard. Pull the halyard tight and cleat it to hold the mast up. Then you can get down and attach the forestay. There are details to be aware of like keeping the shrouds and rigging from getting caught on the corner castings, getting the hinge link to toggle as you raise the mast and so on.

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Howard

There is a factory supplied rigging video that comes with new hobies (on DVD). It was great for me. One of the best tricks that Matt showed was to Attach the Jib sheet clevis to the forestay bridle then untie the knot on the end of one of the jib sheets and pull it out of it's hole on the cam cleat car. Tie a boline in the end of the jib sheet and put a clevis around the forestay and the loop of the boline. The clevis must be small enough that the forestay cable loop thimble will not pull through. After you step the mast, hold the mast with one hand then pull on the jib sheet and cleat it with the other. It will hold it long enough for you to take the main halyard from the mast and tie it to the bow tang or your trailer winch hook. You can then release the jib sheet and switch the forestay bridle from the jib sheets to the forestay. I did this the first time I rigged my H16 and it worked great.

The method you describe, using the jib sheet sounds a little more complicated than just extending the length of the jib halyard. I also get the impression that the clevis on the forestay would pull the forestay at an angle putting a bend in the wires that might crimp them. You also introduce another step, using the main halyard to hold up the mast. When I use the jib halyard, the forestay is loose and easy to handle, the bridle is held up, and the forestay can be connected to the bridle with room to spare. I learned this method from an article in the Hobie Hotline several years ago.

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Howard

Anyone know how I can get my hands on this DVD. I have the old VHS tape but no VCR.

I do it just as Howard described. Works like a charm. It does help to have something that you can place behind the boat to lay the mast on while you attach the base to the step-link.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

We have it on DVD...

84430026 DVD- H14/H16 RIGGING $14.95

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR IS A "HOBIE MAST STEPPER" PAGE 31 IN THE HOBIE CATALOG.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOBIE DEALER, ITs LIST PRICE IS $ 175.00 COMBINE IT WITH A ROPE WINCH, YOUR GOOD TO GO.
I'm a Hemiplegic (gimp) and sail solo and the Rube Goldberg contraption works great. I use a snap gizzy on the rope winch,
and a bow shackle on the forestay. that way your not holding the mast up with one hand the chain plate with the other
then using your third hand to put the pin in. the winch is holding the mast up while you pin it.
GOOD LUCK,
-Mike-
Sail #43458

I just installed a "Champion" 2000 lb electric winch / with remote control to the front mast support last week. ($100.00) from Tractor Supply. I hook it to both trap wires to raise and lower. No more lifting. I just basically walk with it as it's going up and down to keep it from swinging from side to side. Got some interesting looks from people at the boat launch yesterday. I was thinking about posting a youtube video on how I put it together. It's a little funky because I'm using a 12 foot snowmobile trailer and I do my own welding.

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"Liquid Plumber's Edition Wave" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z78PozP9dc0

Like Steviethunder,

I mounted a winch on my rear bumper, run the cable over the mast rest and raise it up with the remote.

works great.

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Dale Guthormsen

Where to be, On the Edge
2008 hobie 16

Using an electric winch mounted on a bumper or trailer is an easy way to crush-damage your hulls unless the angle of the forestay or jib halyard relative to the mast tang is *MUCH* higher than a line run over a typical trailer mast support would provide. If you're just yanking it up by the trap lines, you're in even worse shape, with probably 90% or more of your winch's power pulling the hulls downward into the trailer, and 10% or less actually lifting the mast.

Yes, the mast comes up, but there are a lot of stresses and forces flying around that might not be so obvious.

You need a gin pole to substantially increase the angle of the pulling line referenced from the mast tang, no matter what method of mechanical advantage you want to use. I would say 6ft min height for something connected to the mast itself. 8+ ft if you're using some sort of trailer-mounted mast support extension, since the horizontal distance increases to the mast tang.

Any method that involves pulling the mast up instead of pushing it up from behind needs a gin pole to properly address the physics of the operation. Ignoring the problem by application of overwhelming force eventually means something is going to break, and you aren't going to be happy about it.

Hey Howard and James, I realize this is a simple maneuver so forgive me but I can't quite get it straight in my head.



Exactly how do you "tie" the jib halyard extension to the bridle? A second shackle on the chain plate not used by the forestay? I envision this extended line passing though something at the bridle and not tying off, is that right?



Here I'm thinking I'm still at the rear cross bar with the mast on my shoulder and can't reach the cleats at the bottom of the mast. It sounds like you're walking up the tramp with the mast held overhead, so I can't see how you can either reach down and uncleat the halyard extension, or manage to pull on the extension as you're walking the mast to the upright, stepped position.

Is the halyard extension used more to pull the mast up as you're going, or is it more of a backup until the mast gets stepped and then it's used primarily to hold it upright until you can get the forestay attached?

Sorry for numerous detailed questions, I just don't quite understand the process yet.

Thanks in advance!

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'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'

I see you have repeated my post on the easiest way to raise a mast single handed. Since I wrote it, I purchased a hinge link from Murray's that I believe will eliminate the "toggling" problem". The shape of it limits the swing at the mast step and should allow the mast to drop right into the base. Others on this site who have used it claim that it does work well. The idea of using a length of line on the jib halyard was not mine. I originally found it in an old Hobie Hotline several years ago. I lost some upper body strength since a heart operation about 3 years ago but I still raise the mast myself (and I am 76 years old) so I am sure others can do it easily.

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Howard

And ANOTHER thing (LOL!!!),

nO0b:

I installed an extension on the mast support on my trailer to achieve the +30" height delta between my gin pole roller and the mast step. I haven't been able to put the boat on the trailer yet to know exactly what the delta is, but according to my measurements and calculations:

Distance from bottom of hulls to mast step = ~34"
Distance from top of hull rollers on trailer to bottom of V on mast support = 59"
Delta = 25"

So, I added this extension to the top of the mast support, and I get ~18" more vertical height:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 5441_n.jpg

The question is, do you think this is enough height, or in your opinion should I go higher since you say 8+ ft is desirable "if you're using some sort of trailer-mounted mast support extension?" If so, 8' from what point, the ground, the hull bottoms/trailer roller tops, the step?

THANKS in advance!

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'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'

Oh yea, I forgot to mention & be careful what you assume; I use an extension on the mast support bringing it to over 8 feet. I also use a tripod at the mast tip which extends to over 10 feet. Also, don't forget to strap the cat down and at an angle that pulls from the rear because it will have a tendency to scoot forward as the mast is going up. The whole process is no worse than lifting the mast while on the tramp and raising it with the combined weight of the mast and yourself.

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"Liquid Plumber's Edition Wave" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z78PozP9dc0