[Rhodes22-list] Mast raising from a beginner

[Lou Rosenberg]

Chet

I had to chime in on this one.

I want to share with the list how I did almost EVERYTHING wrong last  
Sept while taking down my mast for only the second time, the first  
time being with the help of a yard's fork lift to hold the mast while  
I undid the stays.

First it was threatening to rain, but I insisted on taking it down.   
Second, I did not use the extensions for the forward inner shrouds.   
Third I actually LOOSENED the turnbuckles too much BEFORE we began  
cranking down the mast!!

With my friend at the stern and I at the winch on the foredeck we  
still gingerly brought the mast down into its crutch safely.

The next time I will know to use the extensions for the forward  
shrouds and never loosen the shrouds that much.
Lou



On Apr 29, 2008, at 4:17 PM, chetc wrote:

>
> Hi gang,
>
> Please read the following (which I found in the archives) and tell  
> me if you
> think this is truly do-able on a boat with the Inner Mast Furling.  
> It almost
> sounds too good to be true...
>
> "RAISING THE MAST has been made easy on trailerable boats because  
> the base
> of the mast slips into some sort of hinge system. But in some boat  
> designs
> the mast is not positively bolted to the hinge or has to be held at  
> an angle
> to clear the hatch to fit the hinged step. The experience of a mast  
> flying
> free while trying to raise it, makes me appreciate the positive bolted
> system(that starts at rest)of the RC. Many boats do not have the  
> shrouds
> positioned to prevent the mast from falling sideways while moving  
> thru the
> raising arc. And invariably the mast can only be raised forward by  
> standing
> in the cockpit to get leverage while sacrificing height, or  
> standing on the
> cabin roof to get height while sacrificing leverage.
> But what if the mast were raised backwards and the upper shrouds  
> were in
> line with the pivoting base of the mast? Then you could stand on the
> foredeck(higher than the cockpit) and at the bow (more leverage  
> than on the
> cabin roof) and one person could handle it with continuous sideways  
> support
> from the shrouds. If the doctor says not to exert yourself even  
> this much,
> then, with the boom attached to the mast, the halyard to the end of  
> the
> boom, and the main sheet in its normal configuration, you have -a  
> built-in
> mechanical advantage hoist that will let you delegate mast raising  
> to almost
> anyone.
> This is how the RHODES 22 does it. The backward approach is made  
> possible by
> an extra set of lower shrouds that fasten forward of the mast.  
> Stability is
> provided by upper shrouds to chain plates in line with the mast’s  
> pivoting
> plane.
> Few other makes have double lowers so their masts can not be raised  
> aft. The
> few brands that do have double lowers fail to offer a hinge that  
> allows
> backward raising."
>
> So, the question is, is it truly easier to lower the mast forward/ 
> raise the
> mast rearward? and does it work well to use the boom as a gin pole  
> and use
> the main sheet tackle for mechanical advantage?
>
> Yes, I know I can purchase an expensive mast crane that may be the  
> ultimate,
> but I really shouldn't need it if the above works. Right?
>
> As always, your opinions and experience are most appreciated.
>
> chet
>
>
> -- 
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> question-tp16969288p16969288.html
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