Hi all, I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way. Thanks, Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Rick. It works. Just catch the mast for the last bit down onto the carry support. Since I have a jib furler, I actually rig a 4:1 block an tackle to the forestay rather than to the jib halyard. ~~~_/)~~~ Gary Sent from my iPhone :-)
On May 21, 2014, at 2:02 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Rick, Yes it can be done without much difficulty. We raise and lower more than just the beginning and end of the season. The side stays are in line with mast so should not have to be loosened, unless you keep the rig unusually tight. In 5 years I have had no problems with any side to side swaying, so you may not have to take any extra steps of tying down laterally. Your choice. We have an extended winch post on our Pacific trailer that helps somewhat. I bolt a 3" turning block just below the top mast crutch. A 1/2" line bowline to the jib halyard (other end of halyard is cleated off at the mast) runs aft to the starboard winch on the cockpit coaming. I tension that line with 3 wraps on the winch and cleat it off at the stern. Once that line is secured, you can make sure the mast pivot bolt and nut is loosened, and release your forestay. This may take a few turns on the turnbuckle and release the pin or shackle to the bow fitting. Lowering involves easing the line around the winch. You may need to tug the mast aft to get it started. Give a couple of inches of slack and just keep the 3 line wraps on the winch. You can ease it very slowly with a lot of control. I used to stand on the seats, straddling the cockpit to take it on my shoulder, but now just lower it all the way down to the factory wood crutch that mounts in the rudder gudgeons. Once down, you can pull the mast pivot bolt and slid the mast forward onto the pulpit or winch post support. You should not have to release the side stays or back stay. Just loosely coil them in each side. We secure them to the mast with ball bungees, and strap the mast to the forward and aft mast supports. Halyards are coiled and bungeed to the mast as well. Going in reverse to raise it, you do need to give it a lift up off the mast crutch. Another time saver is to leave the main flaked and tied to the boom, and stow it in the cabin like that with the main sheet and gear attached. We have a topping lift that we leave on as we swing the boom into the cabin. Then we release the topping lift. Makes it an easy one person job. Bill Bill
On May 21, 2014, at 5:21 PM, GARY M HYDE <gmhyde1@mac.com> wrote:
Rick. It works. Just catch the mast for the last bit down onto the carry support. Since I have a jib furler, I actually rig a 4:1 block an tackle to the forestay rather than to the jib halyard.
~~~_/)~~~ Gary Sent from my iPhone :-)
On May 21, 2014, at 2:02 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Rick: I devised a similar system. I put a large snatch block at the stem head fitting, running a 1/2" line from the end of the wire end of the jib halyard back to a cockpit winch. With a couple turns around the winch, I raise the mast as far as I can reach from the cockpit, hold it with one arm and take up the slack on the winch with the other. That holds most of the weight. With each "bump" with one hand I gain a bit more elevation. Eventually, when I can lift the mast no higher, I use the sheet winch to crank it up to the top, then secure the line to the jib sheet cleat. At that point, I can move forward to pin the forestay in place, then tension it up. To lower the mast, I reverse the process. Get the line with snatch block in place and connected to the jib halyard again. Then tension it up fully. Then go forward. Take the tension off the forestay, pull the pin and head back to the cockpit. With a couple turns around the winch, I start letting out some slack and the mast will start leaning back. Feather it down until you can catch it, then with both hands, lower it to the mast support already on the transom. A few minutes to raise or lower and I don't use any side supports. I leave the side stays attached the whole time. Key is to go slow and maintain control. On May 21, 2014, at 4:02 PM, Rick Davies wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill, Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem. Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay. Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support? Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast? Thanks again, guys, Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jdavies104@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656 ________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill, Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem. Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay. Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support? Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast? Thanks again, guys, Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jdavies104@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Mitch, I took a couple steps to get a little more angle for when the mast is nearly all the way down. I have about a 6" piece of chain I keep attached to an eye bolt on the front, top of my trailer crutch. I flip the chain over the top of the crutch and attach my main sheet block to it. I then attach the top block to the jib sheet, which remains cleated at all times. Note for extra strength I attach to the halyard eye, not the shackle. I then use a sheet bend to attach an extra length of line. This is needed because it takes the entire length of my main sheet to lower it and I need the line to run back to the cockpit. I then pull it tight to take the tension off the front stay and until I'm ready, I tie the sheet off on the front pulpit in case it become uncleated. I have a furled head sail which is very heavy so I us a loose 2-3' bungie to hang it off the jib sheet, then it floats all the way down without getting in the way or scratching the boat. It works just as well going up. I suggest bungie it before pulling the pin. I then untie the sheet and pan out a couple feet at a time while I push the mast over until it will starts lowering on it's own weight. I then go the cockpit and lower it the rest by letting the sheet out and I basically just guide it into the back crutch. It actually doesn't require much effort at all holding the line. A kid could handle the line, if you trust them. That said it is a little tricky because you are panning the line out through you single hand while guiding the mast. If I hold the line too high it will cleat off on the block. In which case I need to take some of the weight of the mast and whip the sheet so it uncleats. Note, I also raised the transom crutch to have the extra angle. Actually I moved it up as part of moving it back so the spreaders don't hit the crutch. Going up I reverse everything but I do left it a few feet before taking the load on the main sheet. Regards, Ron McNeil Jackpot - M17 - #675 On Wednesday, May 21, 2014 6:42 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net> wrote: Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656 ________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill, Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem. Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay. Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support? Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast? Thanks again, guys, Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jdavies104@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Attachment to forestay with furler: I raise the mast by attaching the block and tackle to the forestay to keep the furler from flopping around during raising and lowering the mast. That also helps lift the weight of the furler. GARY ~~~~_/) ~~~~ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. On May 21, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656
________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill,
Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem.
Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay.
Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support?
Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast?
Thanks again, guys,
Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jdavies104@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
That makes sense, Gary. I took the mast down today using the mainsheet as a 3:1 tackle attached between the jib halyard and the front trailer cradle, and led back to the starboard jib sheet winch. It worked fine until the mast was below around 50-60 degrees, when the support line began to approach being in line with the mast, and couldn't take the full weight any more. I enlisted help for that last phase since I couldn't control the mainsheet and guide the mast into the aft cradle at the same time. Maybe more practice will help. I'll try using the forestay when I raise it again. Thanks, Rick M17 #633 Lynne L On Saturday, May 24, 2014, GARY M HYDE <gmhyde1@mac.com> wrote:
Attachment to forestay with furler: I raise the mast by attaching the block and tackle to the forestay to keep the furler from flopping around during raising and lowering the mast. That also helps lift the weight of the furler. GARY ~~~~_/) ~~~~ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
On May 21, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net<javascript:;>> wrote:
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656
________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;>> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <javascript:;>> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill,
Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem.
Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay.
Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support?
Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast?
Thanks again, guys,
Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml',' jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;>');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
I’m not young…nor very big…nor very strong…but I lower my M17 mast by routing the main halyard through my jib downhaul block at the stem and back to the cockpit and take a light strain on it while “checking it” and using my arms to bring the mast down onto my shoulder while I stand in the companionway…then I bend my knees with the mast on my shoulder to lower it into a “goalpost" crutch installed in the gudgeons. To raise it I reverse this procedure except instead of checking the halyard I take a moderate strain on it until the mast is on the step. To prepare for lowering I re-route the main halyard and cam-cleat it off with a moderate strain while dis-connecting the forestay at the turnbuckle and slacking upper shroud turnbuckles 8 turns. Then I position my self and remove it from the cam cleat as I begin lowering. After raising the mast and cam-cleating off the main halyard I connect the forestay turnbuckle and tighten the upper shrouds. On May 24, 2014, at 7:50 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> wrote:
That makes sense, Gary. I took the mast down today using the mainsheet as a 3:1 tackle attached between the jib halyard and the front trailer cradle, and led back to the starboard jib sheet winch. It worked fine until the mast was below around 50-60 degrees, when the support line began to approach being in line with the mast, and couldn't take the full weight any more. I enlisted help for that last phase since I couldn't control the mainsheet and guide the mast into the aft cradle at the same time. Maybe more practice will help. I'll try using the forestay when I raise it again.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, GARY M HYDE <gmhyde1@mac.com> wrote:
Attachment to forestay with furler: I raise the mast by attaching the block and tackle to the forestay to keep the furler from flopping around during raising and lowering the mast. That also helps lift the weight of the furler. GARY ~~~~_/) ~~~~ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
On May 21, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net<javascript:;>> wrote:
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656
________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;>> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <javascript:;>> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill,
Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem.
Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay.
Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support?
Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast?
Thanks again, guys,
Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml',' jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;>');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Wilson, I don't understand. If you're taking the weight of the mast on your arms and shoulder, why do you need the halyard? If it's only taking a moderate strain, you must be taking the rest. I can lower and raise the mast without any support line by walking along the cockpit seats and manhandling it up or down, but I ain't as young as I used to be, (who is?) and I'd like a simple scheme that moves the weight from me to a supporting line that I can control easily without using a gin pole. What I found today is that my 3:1 tackle handles the easy part when the mast is say above 45 degrees, but not the hard part, when it's being lowered into (or lifted out of) the crutch, when I'm in the most danger of dropping it. Rick M17 #633 Lynne L On Saturday, May 24, 2014, Wilson Frye <fryewe@me.com> wrote:
I’m not young…nor very big…nor very strong…but I lower my M17 mast by routing the main halyard through my jib downhaul block at the stem and back to the cockpit and take a light strain on it while “checking it” and using my arms to bring the mast down onto my shoulder while I stand in the companionway…then I bend my knees with the mast on my shoulder to lower it into a “goalpost" crutch installed in the gudgeons. To raise it I reverse this procedure except instead of checking the halyard I take a moderate strain on it until the mast is on the step.
To prepare for lowering I re-route the main halyard and cam-cleat it off with a moderate strain while dis-connecting the forestay at the turnbuckle and slacking upper shroud turnbuckles 8 turns. Then I position my self and remove it from the cam cleat as I begin lowering.
After raising the mast and cam-cleating off the main halyard I connect the forestay turnbuckle and tighten the upper shrouds.
On May 24, 2014, at 7:50 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:;>> wrote:
That makes sense, Gary. I took the mast down today using the mainsheet as a 3:1 tackle attached between the jib halyard and the front trailer cradle, and led back to the starboard jib sheet winch. It worked fine until the mast was below around 50-60 degrees, when the support line began to approach being in line with the mast, and couldn't take the full weight any more. I enlisted help for that last phase since I couldn't control the mainsheet and guide the mast into the aft cradle at the same time. Maybe more practice will help. I'll try using the forestay when I raise it again.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, GARY M HYDE <gmhyde1@mac.com <javascript:;>> wrote:
Attachment to forestay with furler: I raise the mast by attaching the block and tackle to the forestay to keep the furler from flopping around during raising and lowering the mast. That also helps lift the weight of the furler. GARY ~~~~_/) ~~~~ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
On May 21, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net<javascript:;> <javascript:;>> wrote:
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656
________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;>> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <javascript:;><javascript:;>> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill,
Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem.
Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay.
Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support?
Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast?
Thanks again, guys,
Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;><javascript:;><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml',' jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;>');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
Then you must be 19 years old and MACHO !..... We at 60+ AIN'T !!!!! -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Rick Davies Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2014 8:59 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Mast lowering Wilson, I don't understand. If you're taking the weight of the mast on your arms and shoulder, why do you need the halyard? If it's only taking a moderate strain, you must be taking the rest. I can lower and raise the mast without any support line by walking along the cockpit seats and manhandling it up or down, but I ain't as young as I used to be, (who is?) and I'd like a simple scheme that moves the weight from me to a supporting line that I can control easily without using a gin pole. What I found today is that my 3:1 tackle handles the easy part when the mast is say above 45 degrees, but not the hard part, when it's being lowered into (or lifted out of) the crutch, when I'm in the most danger of dropping it. Rick M17 #633 Lynne L On Saturday, May 24, 2014, Wilson Frye <fryewe@me.com> wrote:
I’m not young…nor very big…nor very strong…but I lower my M17 mast by routing the main halyard through my jib downhaul block at the stem and back to the cockpit and take a light strain on it while “checking it” and using my arms to bring the mast down onto my shoulder while I stand in the companionway…then I bend my knees with the mast on my shoulder to lower it into a “goalpost" crutch installed in the gudgeons. To raise it I reverse this procedure except instead of checking the halyard I take a moderate strain on it until the mast is on the step.
To prepare for lowering I re-route the main halyard and cam-cleat it off with a moderate strain while dis-connecting the forestay at the turnbuckle and slacking upper shroud turnbuckles 8 turns. Then I position my self and remove it from the cam cleat as I begin lowering.
After raising the mast and cam-cleating off the main halyard I connect the forestay turnbuckle and tighten the upper shrouds.
On May 24, 2014, at 7:50 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:;>> wrote:
That makes sense, Gary. I took the mast down today using the mainsheet as a 3:1 tackle attached between the jib halyard and the front trailer cradle, and led back to the starboard jib sheet winch. It worked fine until the mast was below around 50-60 degrees, when the support line began to approach being in line with the mast, and couldn't take the full weight any more. I enlisted help for that last phase since I couldn't control the mainsheet and guide the mast into the aft cradle at the same time. Maybe more practice will help. I'll try using the forestay when I raise it again.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, GARY M HYDE <gmhyde1@mac.com <javascript:;>> wrote:
Attachment to forestay with furler: I raise the mast by attaching the block and tackle to the forestay to keep the furler from flopping around during raising and lowering the mast. That also helps lift the weight of the furler. GARY ~~~~_/) ~~~~ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
On May 21, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net<javascript:;> <javascript:;>> wrote:
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656
________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;>> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <javascript:;><javascript:;>> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill,
Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem.
Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay.
Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support?
Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast?
Thanks again, guys,
Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;><javascript:;><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml',' jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;>');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
May have been macho once ... can't quite recall .... but at 77+ I sure ain't now :-( On Saturday, May 24, 2014, Bill Tosh <billt@eastex.net> wrote:
Then you must be 19 years old and MACHO !..... We at 60+ AIN'T !!!!!
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com <javascript:;>[mailto: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Rick Davies Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2014 8:59 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Wilson,
I don't understand. If you're taking the weight of the mast on your arms and shoulder, why do you need the halyard? If it's only taking a moderate strain, you must be taking the rest. I can lower and raise the mast without any support line by walking along the cockpit seats and manhandling it up or down, but I ain't as young as I used to be, (who is?) and I'd like a simple scheme that moves the weight from me to a supporting line that I can control easily without using a gin pole. What I found today is that my 3:1 tackle handles the easy part when the mast is say above 45 degrees, but not the hard part, when it's being lowered into (or lifted out of) the crutch, when I'm in the most danger of dropping it.
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, Wilson Frye <fryewe@me.com <javascript:;>> wrote:
I’m not young…nor very big…nor very strong…but I lower my M17 mast by routing the main halyard through my jib downhaul block at the stem and back to the cockpit and take a light strain on it while “checking it” and using my arms to bring the mast down onto my shoulder while I stand in the companionway…then I bend my knees with the mast on my shoulder to lower it into a “goalpost" crutch installed in the gudgeons. To raise it I reverse this procedure except instead of checking the halyard I take a moderate strain on it until the mast is on the step.
To prepare for lowering I re-route the main halyard and cam-cleat it off with a moderate strain while dis-connecting the forestay at the turnbuckle and slacking upper shroud turnbuckles 8 turns. Then I position my self and remove it from the cam cleat as I begin lowering.
After raising the mast and cam-cleating off the main halyard I connect the forestay turnbuckle and tighten the upper shrouds.
On May 24, 2014, at 7:50 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;><javascript:;>> wrote:
That makes sense, Gary. I took the mast down today using the mainsheet as a 3:1 tackle attached between the jib halyard and the front trailer cradle, and led back to the starboard jib sheet winch. It worked fine until the mast was below around 50-60 degrees, when the support line began to approach being in line with the mast, and couldn't take the full weight any more. I enlisted help for that last phase since I couldn't control the mainsheet and guide the mast into the aft cradle at the same time. Maybe more practice will help. I'll try using the forestay when I raise it again.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, GARY M HYDE <gmhyde1@mac.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;>> wrote:
Attachment to forestay with furler: I raise the mast by attaching the block and tackle to the forestay to keep the furler from flopping around during raising and lowering the mast. That also helps lift the weight of the furler. GARY ~~~~_/) ~~~~ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
On May 21, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net <javascript:;><javascript:;> <javascript:;>> wrote:
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656
________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;><javascript:;> <javascript:;>> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com<javascript:;> <javascript:;><javascript:;>> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill,
Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem.
Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay.
Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support?
Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast?
Thanks again, guys,
Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:;> <javascript:;><javascript:;><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml',' jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;> <javascript:;>');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
The halyard allows me to cleat off and take the weight of the mast while lowering and raising with it in an intermediate position if I get a shroud or halyard caught on something (which I seem to do too regularly). With the halyard cleated that frees up a hand to take care of the defugelty. On May 24, 2014, at 9:20 PM, Bill Tosh <billt@eastex.net> wrote:
Then you must be 19 years old and MACHO !..... We at 60+ AIN'T !!!!!
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Rick Davies Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2014 8:59 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Wilson,
I don't understand. If you're taking the weight of the mast on your arms and shoulder, why do you need the halyard? If it's only taking a moderate strain, you must be taking the rest. I can lower and raise the mast without any support line by walking along the cockpit seats and manhandling it up or down, but I ain't as young as I used to be, (who is?) and I'd like a simple scheme that moves the weight from me to a supporting line that I can control easily without using a gin pole. What I found today is that my 3:1 tackle handles the easy part when the mast is say above 45 degrees, but not the hard part, when it's being lowered into (or lifted out of) the crutch, when I'm in the most danger of dropping it.
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, Wilson Frye <fryewe@me.com> wrote:
I’m not young…nor very big…nor very strong…but I lower my M17 mast by routing the main halyard through my jib downhaul block at the stem and back to the cockpit and take a light strain on it while “checking it” and using my arms to bring the mast down onto my shoulder while I stand in the companionway…then I bend my knees with the mast on my shoulder to lower it into a “goalpost" crutch installed in the gudgeons. To raise it I reverse this procedure except instead of checking the halyard I take a moderate strain on it until the mast is on the step.
To prepare for lowering I re-route the main halyard and cam-cleat it off with a moderate strain while dis-connecting the forestay at the turnbuckle and slacking upper shroud turnbuckles 8 turns. Then I position my self and remove it from the cam cleat as I begin lowering.
After raising the mast and cam-cleating off the main halyard I connect the forestay turnbuckle and tighten the upper shrouds.
On May 24, 2014, at 7:50 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com<javascript:;>> wrote:
That makes sense, Gary. I took the mast down today using the mainsheet as a 3:1 tackle attached between the jib halyard and the front trailer cradle, and led back to the starboard jib sheet winch. It worked fine until the mast was below around 50-60 degrees, when the support line began to approach being in line with the mast, and couldn't take the full weight any more. I enlisted help for that last phase since I couldn't control the mainsheet and guide the mast into the aft cradle at the same time. Maybe more practice will help. I'll try using the forestay when I raise it again.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, GARY M HYDE <gmhyde1@mac.com <javascript:;>> wrote:
Attachment to forestay with furler: I raise the mast by attaching the block and tackle to the forestay to keep the furler from flopping around during raising and lowering the mast. That also helps lift the weight of the furler. GARY ~~~~_/) ~~~~ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
On May 21, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Mitch Carnes <mitch_carnes@sbcglobal.net<javascript:;> <javascript:;>> wrote:
Mboaters; I too use a 4-1 mounted from trailer forward crutch to jib halyard. I also use the sheet winch, bu tdo not crank, just pull and secure. I have found I must de-tension my side stays to get past the "hump" of my mast as the aft bottom curve is not ground down quite enough. A side note: I also fabricated a 1x 10 inch poplar board that sits between companionway threshhold and the aft vee berth bulkhead. That way I can walk the mast down by backing down this plank and onto the cockpit seats. (They are nearly the same height), then step onto the cockpit floor. It also doubles as a table at the dock and can be slid port or starboard as needed. Fair winds. Mitch M-17 656
________________________________ From: Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;>> To: M BoatsForum <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <javascript:;><javascript:;>> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 4:50 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast lowering
Gary H, Gary O, Howard and Bill,
Thanks to you all for your quick and thoughtful responses. I sure love this forum. All the best minds in the M-boat community ready and willing to help. I feel much better about attacking the problem.
Gary H, what is the significance of the furler for attaching the tackle to the forestay rather than the jib halyard? I have a CDI furler, but thought it would be easier to take the strain on the jib halyard to ease unpinning the forestay.
Bill and Howard, do you think the 4:1 is overkill? It seemed to me that there's a lot of tension as the mast comes down. Is the 1:1 attached at the stemhead really easy to handle? Without the added height of attaching to the trailer support?
Gary O, I used to drop the mast manually, but stood on the cockpit seats, moving aft as the mast came down. I somehow can't picture lowering it from the cabin top. Do you stand in front of the mast?
Thanks again, guys,
Rick M17 # 633 Lynne L
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;><javascript:;><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml',' jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;> <javascript:;>');>> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a simple (meaning without a gin pole) way to lower the mast on my M17 single-handed without having to walk it down the hard way in the cockpit. I thought of attaching one end of the main sheet to the front mast support on the trailer and the other end to the jib halyard. I think someone on the forum described something like this quite a while ago, but I can't find it. I plan on using a line tied around the mast as high as I can reach and secured to the chainplates on each side for lateral support. I'd plan to lower the mast until I can reach it easily from the cockpit, then lower it the rest of the way by hand, so the tension in the support line doesn't get too big as the mast approaches horizontal. Has anyone tried anything like this? Hate it find out it doesn't work the hard way.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
participants (8)
-
Bill Tosh -
Bill Wickett -
GARY M HYDE -
Howard Audsley -
Mitch Carnes -
Rick Davies -
Ronald McNeil -
Wilson Frye