Mountrange.gif (8319 bytes) Boatbuilding
 
Let the tradewinds fill your sails - Explore, Discover, Learn  
 
G'day

It is late at night in Australia so please forgive any obvious errors.

Another solution is to fix two ropes or cables (or use shrouds) to the side of the mast. The ends of these ropes (shrouds) are attached to a point on either side of the boat. One to starboard and one to port. Ensure that the points (point 1) at which the ropes (shrouds) are fixed are at the same imaginary line as the mast when this line is drawn from starboard to port and passing through the mast. This line is also at right angles to the centre line of the boat. You now have a tri-pod arrangement that will stabilise the mast.

Assuming the mast has not miraculously jumped into position and is still lying on the deck on the centre line of the boat you attach two poles (could be spinnaker poles) to two other points on the inside of the hulls by way of shackle, d-ring or swivelling join. Bring the standing ends of the poles together in the middle of the boat and tie this to the forestay.

One single rope attached to the standing end of the poles is fed through the bow roller to the main whinch (3X around winch) and to a tie-off point like a cleat.

You should now have a mast on the deck with two poles pointing into the sky. These poles act as your lever and will be pulled by the rope through the winch. A variation would be to take the rope to the winch on the trailer. All you have to do now is winch away and tie off as necessary.

Points to consider:

Main halyard and jib halyard can be tied to port and starboard respectively and then adjusted to induce sway.
For safety tie a rope to the transom of the boat and the head of the mast at a length allowing you to raise the mast but not fall forward. One could use aft lower shroud or any other for that matter.
This method needs only one person (winch handy on trailer for raising)
Keep people at distance equal to more than the length of the mast.
Wear gloves
Work with the wind not against it.
Never attempt this with the sail on : )

 

 

Page designed by me