[Rhodes22-list] Mast raising question

[Hank]

Chet,

I've raised and lowered my mast without the mast crane but it is a two
person job.  The IMF mast is rather heavy.  However, attaching the lowers as
Stan advises does prevent the mast from moving sideways.  If I was
trailering a lot, I would probably buy the crane.  Since I only raise and
lower at most a couple of times a year, it is not worth it to me.

Hank


On 4/29/08, chetc <cclocksin at buckeye-express.com> 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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> http://www.nabble.com/Mast-raising-question-tp16969288p16969288.html
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