Any tricks for raising mast while underway?

[jamato323]

I installed Roller Furling on my CP16 "Bel" which makes raising/lowering mast more challenging. Also, I want to use a nearby public ramp that enters a creek with a low bridge before I can get to open water. Has anyone developed a gin pole or other system that I can use underway? Age and agility are definite factors on this end. Thanks.

[Pacman]

You might try this:

Attach a line to the main halyard and lead it through a block on the bow and back to you while standing in the cockpit.

It is easy to shoulder the mast while standing by the stern. 

Then walk forward keeping the mast on your shoulder, raising the mast a bit as you go forward.

Then you can use a combination of lifting the mast with one hand and pulling on the line with the other to raise the mast to vertical.  That seems to make the job easier because you don't have to do all the work with one hand.

Then you can cleat the line before going forward to attach the forestay

That's how I do it on land.  Might work on the water too.

[Bob23]

Hmmm...I  wonder if you can adapt Compac's Mastender system to a 16? Has anyone done this? That would be the perfect solution to your problem.
bob23

[MacGyver]

You could use a winch if you had one on the cabin top like a 19 does, do like what Pacman says then use a winch at some point so you didnt have to worry about losing it as you went up.

then cleat it off, and go up to hook up the forestay.

A really small winch for this purpose could be installed really easily

Mac

[deisher6]

Hey Jamato:
I use much the same method as PACMAN except that I hook the jib halyard (if you have one with roller furling) around the bow pulpit then lever the mast up from the bridge deck keeping tension on the halyard.  Stay low when messing about on your foredeck when afloat!

regards charlie

[jamato323]

Many thanks for your help guys. On land I do use the jib halyard to assist in raising the mast. Then I use a de-tensioning devise on the port stay to slack the rig while I attach the furler/forestay and retension the rig. Don't know how all this will work while waddling forward in a crouch position and dodging traffic on the ICWW but I'm going to give it a try? May just have to rethink the neighborhood ramp.