[Rhodes22-list]Mast Raising

[ed kroposki]

Phyllis:

	Sounds like you and your husband are doing fine.  I think that the
stay extender may be part of the problem.  When raising the mast, do not
take the mast up immediately after you get tension on the line.  
	As it starts to raise, Elton (the Guru of raising and lowering mast)
says to stop and walk around and check all stays to insure that they are
correct.  At that point if something is tangled or crooked you can rest the
mast back down and straighten it out.  Then start up again, and stop and
check again.  After it is half way up or thereabouts, stop and check again.

	When you get the mast up, keep tension on the crane.  Try to attach
the Jib/Genoa stay.  For me, it is seldom forward enough on the first check.
However, at that point you can again make sure everything OK (that is all
the stays are correct and any lines holding things are loose).  If
everything is go, then tighten crane to make the forward connection.  Keep
in mind that once the connection is made that as you loosen the crane line
it will put tension on the forestay.  
	Before you disconnect the crane, walk around and check all stays.
Make sure that you can lower the boom.  At that point disconnect the crane
and connect stays to appropriate chain plates.  Then adjusted tension on
stays as needed.  Before putting away equipment check operation of main sail
and genoa. 

	Somewhere in the archives are some raising and lowering checklist.
Find those and then rewrite to your style.  Remember to use cotter rings on
all clevis pins.

Ed K