[Rhodes22-list] Mast Crane

[Charles Henthorn]

Hank:
     I agree with John & Art if you have the IMF.   Life is too short to attempt stepping the IMF with boom and genoa attached without the mast crane.  I don't know the total weight---but it is very heavy.  I've raised and lowered mine 3 times already this season (once to begin it, again to go on a cruise of Lake Michigan, and again to resume sailing locally).  It works without hernias, bruises, cardiac arrest, and injured friends and spouses.   I permits absolute control in case you spot twisted turnbuckles or shrouds during the lowering or raising process.  
     Within the past week during a cruise with our sailing club, I've helped in lowering and raising masts of several Cat22's, an Oday25, and a Seaward23 without raising systems.  Based upon that experience I've decided that, in the future, I'm going to quit volunteering to help unless there's a system available that permits controlled incremental stepping when the mast weighs enough that 3 men are required to handle it.
     Call Stan and put in your order----best money you ever spent.
  Rex H