Administrator
posted 26 September 2001 06:00 PM
Here’s an interesting topic raised by Phil Adams of “Blue Haze”. Does anyone have any brilliant engineering solutions or do you all use brute force?
“Can anyone describe the method of raising/lowering the mast on a Sonata please?We crane it on & off at the moment but would like to give it a try, any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil Adams, Blue Haze.”
Please reply via the bulletin board
Posted by Administrator on behalf of Phil Adams.
Administrator
posted
29 September 2001 02:27 PM
Posted on behalf of Tim Townsend.
I’ve got to say that on Exposition we’ve only raised the mast by crane or by brute force. With the latter method your heart is in your mouth as you wait for the crew to stumble, the mast to slip and and the aluminium mast foot to break. An alternative method is described and shown in pictures in the maintenance section of the Antrim 27 Class website which can be found on www.sailingsource.com . The basic method is to use a gin pole which improves the angle of attack for the hoisting line. This relieves the crew of some of the weight of the mast and they can concentrate on guiding rather than lifting. I haven’t tried the system myself but it does seem to make sense. Please let me know if anybody does or has tried this or a similar technique.
Tim Townsend
Exposition GBR 8327 Medway YC
Administrator
posted
29 September 2001 02:31 PM
My 8 stone wife and my 10 stone self regularly raised and lowered the mast on our Sonata although I can’t say I ever found it an enjoyable experience.
Raising is easier than lowering. We got ready for the big push by:
1)rigging a strong support at the transom. An extension ladder with it’s feet on the ground and lashed firmly in the middle of the transom works ok or you can construct something out of wood. A (very) strong and patient person also makes a good support if you have one spare. Don’t make the support too high – the mast should sit horizontally or at a slight angle down to the step – just so it clears the coach roof.
2) fitting inner and outer shrouds – loosely if you’re not sure of the exact setting.
3) leading a spinni or jib halyard forrard around the pulpit and back to a winch.
4) fitting the backstay – don’t forget!!!
5) making sure that all the shrouds and stays are clear of things to catch on – the shrouds always seem to catch on a winch.
The next step is to ease the horizontal mast back a bit at a time until you can get the bolt into the mast step. At this point, almost all the weight of the mast is balanced on your support at the back – there is virtually no weight on the mast foot.
Next get your tallest, strongest body (or bodies) firmly placed in the cockpit and go for it – lift. The halyard and winch are not much use until the mast is about 30 degrees to the horizontal. From this point onwards you can combine heaving and winching until it’s fully up – the last bit is dead easy. Fit the forestay and breath a sigh of relief.
Getting it down is the reverse but it’s a bit harder because of the nasty bit when the mast is too low for the halyard and winch to hold it and it hasn’t yet reached the safety of your transom support. All the weight is on the person(s) standing in the cockpit.
Disclaimer – this method worked for us but I’m not offering any guarantees – think it out for yourself in advance and make sure you have enough people with enough strength to make it safe.
By way of encouragement, John Boyce regularly raised and lowered the mast on his sonata single-handed by standing on the ground behind the boat and pushing the mast up on an extension ladder. He’s still alive with all his limbs and the boat has no dents and scratches but I wouldn’t recommend you to copy him.
Jack Hardie
New Member
posted
30 September 2001 05:11 PM
We have used the method below on Pied Piper,both while the boat is on land, and in the water and seems to work well.(Best with 3 people but can be done with 2)
Have the mast lying along the centre line of the boat and connect both sets of shrouds and the backstay to the boat.
Tape the upper terminals of the shrouds to the mast with tape to stop them jumping out when the mast is being raised.
With 1 person standing at the transom feed the mast aft, making sure that none of the shrouds or backstay get caught round winches etc, until the person holding the heel is in line with the mast-step.
Place a screwdriver or similar through the holes in the mast-heel and mast-step and tape in position.(Fit proper bolt when mast is upright. This saves somebody having to hold the mast up for ages on their shoulders)
You are now ready to raise the mast, making sure you have first closed the sliding hatch, using either 2 or 3 people start at the back and walk forward then up on to the coachroof under-running the mast until vertical.
Hold in position until forestay pin is secured.
Now remove screwdriver at the mast-heel and fit proper bolt then tighten rigging.
[This message has been edited by Alan Harper (edited 30 September 2001).]