Mast raising

[wes]

Has anybody successfully stepped a 27 mast without the aid of a crane or other power equipment? Can't seem to convince my boatyard to fire up their Lull lift on a weekend, which is the only time I can be there. Contemplating a manual effort. I know I can get the mast up onto the deck, but not sure about raising it.

Wes

[relamb]

I have always used a crane or a forklift, and besides the $200 charge from the riggers I get tired of waiting on the yard's schedule.  ...so I'm installing a Ballenger Spars HMB-30 mast base and building an A frame so that I can do it myself.  I would not want to try it without some way of holding/fixing the bottom of the mast base while you raise it, or hanging the mast from above somehow (strong tree branch, or from a bridge).

[Patrick]

I have built an A-frame and my wife and I can raise/lower the mast easily.  I do have pictures, finally, and will post them tomorrow.

[Jma1_nemo]

We (my wife & I ) also use Patrick's A-frame method on our CP-27 & can vouch for it's simplicity and effectiveness. Ain't no cranes where we sail ;-).

[wes]

Very encouraging! More details please! How do two people best deploy their efforts? Does one person stabilize the bottom of the mast on the deck while the other one hauls on the forestay or furler? Inquiring minds need to know.

Pictures please!

Wes

[BruceW]

Large helium filled weather balloon will raise the mast. Then, shoot the balloon with a bb gun to get the balloon back, or to lower the mast slowly. Duct tape over the hole for next time.

[relamb]

Would like to see pics of the A-Frames please.  ...and the balloon method.
Rick

[BruceW]

Would like to see pics of the A-Frames please.  ...and the balloon method.
Rick

LOL! Thanks for that, Rick; I'd like to see the balloon method also! B

[Bilgemaster]

I'm not sure if this will help anybody, but my other sailboat than my Com-Pac 16 Foundling is a 2001 MacGregor 26X, which has a pretty straightforward Mast Raising System described in Section 9 of the manual, available online here. 

Basically it uses the jib halyard and a block and tackle through a pole set more-or-less perpendicular to the mast and forward to hoist the mast up, with what we Mac owners call "baby stays" running from about 6 feet up the mast to sort of temporary clip-in chainplate things near the port and starboard rails, just forward of the tabernacle (where the mast foot attaches),  These keep the mast straight on its way up, until the main stays, aft of the mast, can hold it steady while you get the jib's turnbuckle hooked up, followed by attaching the backstay. All in all a pretty good system, operated from one of the two winches, which was later improved upon in the later model 26M with a sort of built-in cranking winch at the head of that perpendicular Mast Raising System pole.  I know this is a lot of gibberish to try to visualize, but you can catch a peek of a 26X's Mast Raising System in action here on YouTube.

Like I said, I don't know if this might help anyone, and while it lacks the charm of the Montgolfier Brothers swooping in with their balloon. it IS a pretty handy system on the MacGregors.

Nous approuvons!

[NateD]

I've been collecting parts to build something similar to this thing: http://klackospars.com/about/mast-raising-magic.html

There are simpler systems, but this looks pretty robust and controlled. The mast/rigging on my Dolphin 24 is somewhere north of 120 pounds and would do serious damage if it falls half-way up.