Seeking Suggestions/Ideas - How to attach a gin pole to the base of our mast

[Gypsegym]

Howdy Folks,
We recently purchased a slightly used 2012 CP-23 MK4.  We have a list of projects we want to accomplish and we anticipate utilizing this owners forum and picking your brains because of all the useful information We have already gleaned from it from reading through past posts.  Some real helpful knowledge!
Our first project is to design, build, install and use a mast raising system.  The one key issue we are stuck on is how to attach a gin pole at the base of our mast/mast hinge bracket.  Attached are photos of the mast bracket atop our CP-23/4.  One photo shows the mast in place ready to be rotated up into position.  We can not see any obvious solution to installing a hinge pin for a gin pole.  We are very reluctant to drill holes into the cabin top in front of the existing bracket to install some new pin bracket for a gin pole.  Neither do we want to drill any new holes into the existing mast bracket to accommodate a gin pole pin (assuming there is any "extra" space for this with the existing bracket - which there isn't).  Our best idea right now is to try and determine the manufacturer of the existing u-shaped mast hinge bracket on our CP-23/4 and contact them and ask if they make and sell an attachment for the existing bracket to accommodate a gin pole or possibly they make and sell another model similar to our bracket but with the addition of a place to install a gin pole hinge pin on the forward edge.  Or, is there another manufacturer that makes and sells a similar mast hinge bracket that includes provisions for mounting a gin pole.
Any and all suggestions and ideas are welcome.  Thank you.  Admiral Sarah and Seaman Jim

[AislinGirlII]

The method I used (with inspiration from Brackish and others here) can be seen (maybe, I've been moving web things around since I cancelled a previous provider) on the link below. This was a trial version..but frankly i still use it..it does require a temp hinge pin which I just punch thru and  out with the real pin when the mast is up

http://www.coastlife.net/cs/aislingirl2/?p=138

[Yamaha33410]

attach a base to the mast on the front, attach your gin pole to that when you need to use it... I would think the mast can take that sort of abuse, especially considering you would be on the smaller leading edge with a load pulling it forward, this would be the ideal location to spread the load with the extrusion shape

[slode]

If you are looking for a pre-engineered buyout option you can check out what North Carolina Sailboats has to offer for a system.  http://www.sailboatrichlands.com

Haven't done business with them personally, but enjoy checking out their site once in a while to find some good tips and reading on Com-Pacs.  I know they do a system for the 16 & 23 and would likely do anything custom to meet your needs.

[Potcake boy]

Check with Com Pac, they may already have some offering and their pricing is very reasonable.

[brackish]

Works like a charm, tested through a dozen or so mast raisings and lowerings both on the trailer and on the water, all single handed.  The foot connection was made out of scrap aluminum that was epoxied and screwed together, however, I would have welded it but the alloy I had laying around was not conducive to welding.  You could have one made out of stainless or a more weld friendly aluminum at a fab shop for probably cheap bucks.  The push pins quickly attach to the holes that are already in the tab base.  The first picture of the base piece shows screws, however I replaced them with push pins after the first raising.  both work, push pins just quicker. 

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=3823.

BTW the link to Tom Ray's article on my write up doesn't work any more.  This one does.

https://www.tropicalboating.com/2010/04/the-perfect-solo-mast-raising-system-for-small-sailboats

[Gypsegym]

Please accept our hearty thanks to all who have responded to our post.  The quality and rapidness of your suggestions is truly amazing!
For now, we are looking to implement the gin pole shared by AislingirlII for a first generation solution and work toward the aluminum pole and winch solution shared by Brackish for a second generation solution.  We have more capability to work with wood and flat metal in the short term to accomplish the AislingirlII pole.  We made one visit to a local metal fabricator who stated making an aluminum base bracket for the Brackish solution is "very doable".  He recommended bending aluminum plate into the desired U-shape versus welding three pieces together.  He promised us a cost estimate by last evening, but we have not heard from him.  (Local shops can stay very busy and our little job will probably fall way down on their to-do list.)  PotcakeBoy suggested contacting Com-Pac for their recommendation.  We did this and received a reply from Gerry - his entire response is copied below:
"I would not attach the pole to the mast step.  I would attach it to the mast.  There are several ways to do that.  One that we like is a socket or hole in the mast that the pole slides into."
We have gone back to Gerry and asked for additional information on exactly how to go about implementing his recommendation.  None of our research into mast raising systems ever led us to such an idea - completely new to us.  We assume our mast was obtained from Dwyer.  They have nothing on their web site about a gin pole socket.
Thank all of you again for your expertise and time! 

[AislinGirlII]

One note, the pin hole in my rig is not exactly centered. I made those side plates too wide and had to shave a bit off the bottom so it didn't touch the deck with the mast going up..so maybe keep that in mind..and I like to lift the mast by hand while pulling on the line used to raise, until it gets up a bit. Keeps some strain of that 2x4!!

[Potcake boy]

Sarah and Jim,

My 19 had a hole in the front of the mast big enough to accommodate the pole which just sat in that hole during the raising operation. My 23 pilot house has a fixture with a face plate attached to a short tube that is mounted through a hole in the mast and remains in place. The gin pole slides into that fixture during the raising process. Keep in mind that the mast isn't all that heavy, in fact a couple of people can easily muscle it up. Usually the biggest risk in raising a mast is the tendency for it to fall to the side before it is supported by the shrouds, so that is an important consideration. Also try to park on a level surface when raising the mast.

[philb Junkie19]

I like the idea of the winch mounted on the aluminum gin pole. Some one here used a solid A frame and instead of baby stays which would give great stability. If you are going with a more off the shelf system Aislingirl's should work for you whichever way you attach the base of the pole. I used pretty much the same set up when my 19 was Bermuda rigged to raise and lower the mast myself.  I used sta-set for the bridle. I like the chain bridle shown in both systems. It should make it easier to set up.  The key is having bridles that allow the short temporary stays to pivot in line with the pivot point of the mast and gin pole to constant keep tension as the mast goes up and down. I also used sta-set for those baby stays as you don't want any real stretch. I didn't use stays on the gin pole (which was built and bolted through the step like Aislingirl's). They can't hurt. Rather than a bail attached through the mast, a loop around the mast raised and held to height with a halyard is where the line to the gin pole attached. Having a bail as was shown would be faster but I am scared to drill any holes in a mast especially with my now unstayed mast. I also used a tall mast crutch at the stern to help get started.

Here is a link to a older post showing my mast part way lowered.  It's post 85 down the page. One has to be signed in. The bridle is a little hard to see with all the lines.

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=5421;area=showposts;start=75

[brackish]

I think the advice given by Hutchins about attaching to the mast was in the spirit of a moving gin pole, i.e. one that pivots down as the mast comes up.  Mine stays right where it is.  One of the most pleasant features is the furler drum block, however if you don't have a furler that may not matter,  I'd have to say, my rig probably cost me less than $100, most of it for the brake winch, and I'll take anyone on in a race for setup, raising, stowing, and ease of use. Twenty minutes max, but I could beat that if money was involved.