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Are you going to try pulling the mast up using the rope in one hand while lifting the mast with the other hand? Unless you have at least three hands, that seems like it would be incredibly awkward to me.
It might be. I have seen people putting a mainsheet between their teeth to take up slack. However, with this setup, not if I bungee a loop at the rope's end to the mast. It stays within reach and it is yanked down after use.
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Are you strong enough to raise the mast by hand?
Yes, I just don't like rodeo adventures. Plus the FX tramp, like the Tiger's, is saggy. This takes some load off the tramp.
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I'd ditch the 3:1 system
It is not that much line. The 3:1 was an inspiration from Matt actually, at the 5:50 mark.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca_n9F7pwuY&feature=related[/youtube]
The block and tackle does what a block and tackle does -- it makes it easy to pull.
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...investing in one of the gin-pole mast step systems.
Been there. May go back there, not yet.
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The way I've always solo stepped the mast is to simply tie a line to either one of the trap handles or to the main halyard, then lead the line through a block on the trailer mast stand, and then back to one of the jib cleats (or downhaul cleat if you don't have a jib). Fully raise the mast, pull the slack out of the line and cleat it, then jump down and pin the forestay.
In any case, I think the cleat would be plenty strong for whatever you're planning to do.
Essentially what I am doing. Except using the pulley setup to ease the load up. There are no standard cleats on the FX. Nada.
There is the jib swivel cam cleat that connects to the crossbar by a swivel on a plate that has three rivets and for which I can find no max load info. IT is what I am concerned about. Hate to tear it off and then say, "Well, that didn't work so good." Guess I should have used a fairlead or eyestrap or bullseye...
Sorry, not trying to be a wiseass. Just asking questions to spare future expense. I'm just cheap!