Mast Standing Rig

[CentralCoastSailor]

Many in Fleet 128 don't do "away games" very much b/c standing the mast (keel stepped) can be difficult - especially as the sailors age a bit and the distance from the cuddy to the ground seems to be bigger and the fall is a bit harder (over 60 and you bounce like a dead cat! - somebody could break a hip!). ANYWAY - a few of us keep kicking around some kind of PORTABLE mast raising rig - something like a tow behind lift that could be used to raise a mast - would kind of be like a hand crank (winch) gin-pole device that could just go under the DS trailer and reach up about 1/2 the lenth of a mast (so it can balance and rotate) and then poke it though the cuddy and lower down to the mast step. Folks are VERY serious about one piece keel stepped mast and the "classic" DS hinged mast is frowned up by racing fleet (althougth I'd REALLY like to see some actual engineering data on how much of an advantage NOT having a hinge above the cuddy really makes - NOTE that the Mercury Fleet has done extensive research on this topic and the fleet now includes provision for a hinged mast and report ZERO advantate / disadvantate - just that its a TON easier to raise the mast). What do other's think??? Has anyone come up with a portable and easy way to raise masts for a fleet of DS's??

[GreenLake]

I have a solution that has worked for my boat. It's published here on the forum. You should be able to find the thread but if I find it first I'll post a link.

[GreenLake]

Here is a link discussing easy ways to raise keel step masts.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6937

You can either add a small modification to your mast partners that simulates a hinge. Or you can use a small tripod that is the kind of portable solution that you are thinking of. It works without modification to your boat but you need to add something to the version shown if you want to use it without the simulated hinge.

You need to rig something simple, a board or a stiff strap that prevents the mast foot from sliding forward, past the opening of the mast partners while the mast is still horizontal. Once the mast rises the foot will wedge itself in the opening before it is vertical enough to slide down.

It may be that having a helper hold it in place is enough. For what you are planning you would have sufficient manpower. I was using the system singlehandedly. I mostly dispense with the tripod and rely on the simulated hinge instead but I can see that others might benefit from the tripod especially if a helper can guide the mast foot.

The tripod works with a simple purchase of the kind you can find in a hardware store or you can build your own with real blocks from a marine store. No need for any winches.

Good luck!

[CentralCoastSailor]

Thanks for the response on this - here's an album with pics of my prototype and what I learned - essentially I made a "shoe" that made it easier to raise the mast from the bow, but you still had to get on teh bow to do it (I think that's pretty unstable for us nearly elderly sailors - hey, it's all fun and games until somebody breaks a hip! haha). Anyway, what I'd like to see is a rig that allows you to tip up teh mast from the cockpit, then lower it down to the step, and finally remove the lifting rig to go sailing. I think that THE biggest issue with the DS is that the racing mast is a bit difficult to stand - better with practice though! The hinged masts are a breeze to stand and I've done it solo many many times. But the racing mast is what folks really like. I'd like to hear what others think of my revised and improved concept - last picture on this album https://photos.app.goo.gl/ApcaaKwA2Rg9UWsm6

[GreenLake]

The shoe idea looks interesting, but why do you have it oriented so that you need to raise the mast from the front. My hinge works withe the mast pointing aft and I stand in the cockpit and not on top if the deck to raise it. I agree that standing on the deck is not the safest. That's why I'm not doing it from the front.

[CentralCoastSailor]

IDK why I did that????!! Seems so darn obvious now. I sold the boat to a friend the other day and now I'm reconsidering that set up to help him out. I had just used the yacht club crane to assist in stepping the mast - essentially hoisting it at about the pivot point and then llowering it down through the cuddy - pretty easy really. But that's not a solution for traveling.
Anyway, I'm going to mock up some kind of a jig that can be removed once teh mast is up. Most of those I've seen use a door hinge screwed to teh deck - probably works, but doesn't really look very seamanlike - plus it probably isn't class legal for racing. Stay tuned!!! Thanks! C-

[GreenLake]

I see nothing in the class rules that would penalize the kind of setup I have. It doesn't give any advantage while the mast is up, only in raising it.

Yours is removable which is nice, except for the fact that it should be oriented 180 degrees the other way, the way I see it.

I use mine every time, not just for special occasions. I did not come up with it. It came withe boat and I've merely refurbished it every once in a while.