thinking of moving up

[Billy]

I've raised my mast once by myself. Lifted it all the way up and then grabbed the front stay, pulled it down to keep it tight and then walked forward slowly to attach to the stem head fitting (chain plate). Wasn't that hard but much better w/ a crew member. Never have tried the halyard trick but i am sure it would work, once you get the mast up past halfway. Your height will help here.

However, lowering the mast is a different issue. The one time I raised it, when I went to lower it by myself with a line attached to the front stay. I got it about halfway down and then it dropped . Haven't done it by myself since. Pretty sure you would need a gin pole to raise the angle of pull more upward.

And I tow with a Toyota Tacoma V6 w/ no problems. I think Ted uses a Chevy Avalanche V5..... I think.

[Ted]

I actually tow with a Chevy Colorado with a 5 cylinder. Works just fine. The S 10 should be okay but I probably wouldn't try to take her over the Rockies hauling a 19. Next time, I will buy a bigger truck just to feel a bit more relaxed about it when I tow to S. Florida.

I have raised and lowered the mast numerous times solo. I even did it once on the water - although that scared me and I would never try it again.

With the roller furler mine is pretty heavy compared to the 16 I had. I don't think you will have a problem lifting it solo but I would always use the halyard trick Billy notes above. This seems like a small thing, but I also like to make sure I have shoes on my feet when I do it. That way, if I have to move fast, I don't worry about hurting my feet by stepping on the deck rigging or other items. I have a pair of shoes made to wear on a fiberglass boat and I use them when stepping the mast solo.

One thing to be very careful about on the 19 is to make sure that the "shroud stays" (I think that's the right name for them) don't get caught on anything when you lift the mast. I have white Star Board rails holding my hatch in place. Once, one of these shroud wires got under the lip of the rail and when I boosted up the mast, it wanted to go wonky. Rather than slow down, think, and lay the mast down again, I simply grunted and pushed harder and harder until I heard a little "click" and the rail end snapped off, about an inch's worth. Now, I make sure to lay those shroud stays in a way that they will never bind up when I lift the mast.

[crazycarl]

Steve,

The next time we're down your way, I'll let you raise the mast on our 19. 

Then you can put her in the water. 

When we're finished sailing, I'll let you pull her, lower the mast and ready her for the road.

You can even buy me lunch for letting you experience readying a 19 first hand.

No reason to thank me, that's what friends are for!


Carl

[kickingbug1]

    thanks for the input everyone especially carl (knew i could count on you buddy). i should have probably asked jason if i could step the mast on his but he already put it away for winter-----which he might regret---we could have a few good sailing days yet.   anyway thanks again------i have plenty to think about.

[wes]

I'm a 57 year old CP 19 sailor, love my boat, and wouldn't trade her for anything. That having been said, raising and lowering the mast is no joke. I have done it solo (good advice from Ted above about those damn shrouds catching on the eyebrows) but it is stressful and feels dangerous every time. Even with my wife belaying the furler/forestay from the pulpit while I lift the mast, it's the most dreaded part of readying the boat to sail. This is just a fact of life when trailer sailing such a substantial boat. I don't think it offsets the 19's many other great qualities, but I think a potential buyer should experience it firsthand, especially if he/she is getting older or has any physical limitations.

Wes

[kickingbug1]

   wes, my thoughts exactly. i have decided that before any deal is made i will insist on raising and lowering the mast and trailering the rig a distance. thanks much

[MacGyver]

With my truck being a 4wd Ford Ranger with a 4.0 I dont have much issue towing the 19. When I weighed it all and the individual parts I believe the total on trailer comes to somewhere around 2800 to 3000.

Not bad really.
I dont think rigging it by myself is a big deal, and I have a few disabilities that dont help overall, one main one being my back. The lightning affected my left arm and back so I am used to working more on my right side and thinking things through as to not cause my back any harm.

Everything is always easier with 2 people. But there is ways to work around that stuff and I am sure we can figure something out if you do get it.

If you want, call me and you can come by and see how light the mast really is. I take it off the boat and put it in the rafters of my garage, and it is still rigged yet.
wouldnt be a big deal to get it down to tote it.

I would say we could step it but it is nicely wrapped up for a buyer, and the boat is being completed in the next week or so before it heads to storage for the winter.

As much as I regret wrapping her up early, Every nice day I have had to work, and any free time has been devoted to house work, boat work, or charities. The charities seem to be the biggest as of the last few weeks.

Once I am done today putting the eyebrows on and sending pictures to a few people I hope to go help out at New Minden and maybe see if I can help someone clean up since those Tornados ripped em up..... I dont know anyone there, but no one turns down free help.

Mac

[kickingbug1]

  i was thinking about new minden as well. i could take my flatbed trailer to help haul debris-----give me a call maybe we can go together

[MacGyver]

Kick,
Didnt end up making it out, and I have a practice I have to go to this evening.

I have heard things are going well though over there, so that made me feel a bit better. I guess in Washington IL they have Looters and such, havent heard of that in New Minden.

I won't hesitate to call you if I decide to go over the next couple days after work or something, I have a few other guys that are possibly up to heading over as well.

Mac

[mac2compac]

As new owners of a 19 my buddy and i dropped the mast for the first time the other day before coverning her with the tarp for the season    I'm curious as to what you guys typically do with the mast step bolt. Is it necessary to remove it when dropping the mast or is it sufficient to just loosen the bolt. It seems that there isnt enough slack in the side stays to allow the mast to pivot on the step. Or do you loosen the turnbuckles for the side stays or unpin the turnbuckles.

Thanks   _/)

[wes]

I remove the bolt and shift the mast forward so it rests on the bow pulpit and stern rail. No problem having plenty of length on the shrouds to do this.

Wes

[skip1930]

Mast storage:

Prior to lowering the mast, 2 x 4's are U-Bolted across the bow and stern pulpits.
The mast is lowered.
The back [top] of the mast sits on the stern's wood.
The bolt, washers, and thumb screw is removed from the tabernacle and mast.
The mast is then picked up and skinned forward and ends up resting on both 2x4's.
The mast is tied down with some premium 3-M electrical tape.

The reason for the wood is to place the horizontal mast OFF-CENTER of the ship's centerline.
This allows access through the sliding hatch and companionway without ducking under the mast.

It's all about comfort.
Additionally NO tarp.
I store within a building.
A tarp just loads up with snow and that weight pulls on the stanchion's screwed and that dislodges and damages the boat's topside.
Put the boat into a 'no-touch' tent or put it into a building.

skip.

[jb]

skip,was viewing the pictures that you posted and noticed the cushioning that you use as a backrest? clever idea ! How are they attached?

thank,

j

[Mike]

I purchased a 1985 '19' at the end of last season and sailed a week before starting the winter project list mainly trailer problems (still working on stanchion issues).  I drive a Ford F250 truck and on a steep ramp it is the right vehicle.  The compact is a little daunting for rigging but a mast raising system robbed from an old Venture really makes it a potential one man show. 

I also own a Drascombe Lugger which I single hand step and sail but the process is much easier (I am 67).  The 19 is not a one day up and back boat in my view...just too much rig to deal with but it is a delight for a couple of days at your favorite lake and you can put it up and down (carefully) by yourself with such a system using the forestay and operating from the cockpit with a winch as your muscle.

[skip1930]

Sorry 'J' I missed your post.

These Sopac cushions came out of Australia however they are no longer in business.
These are CLOSED CELL foam and won't soak up water. That's important.

I bought two packages of these cushions, yielding four pieces.
Two pieces are loose and used for the settees. I have one extra piece for whatever.

I took one piece and cut it in half with a razor blade.
Held the half piece up on the cockpit and traced where it was to go.

I used a spray can of 3-M Trim Adhesive and heavily sprayed the back of the half piece AND the area on the cockpit.
Let tack up for about five minutes, carefully center and align the piece flush with the top of the cockpit and press.

Come back the next day and carve out an opening for the tiller minder socket.

They wash up great with soap and a scrub brush. Rinse with water.  They have been stuck on the cockpit for what ... 9 years?

skip.