Mast Raising

[Dennis]

Hello all.

I have just posted some pics in an album :"Mast Raising Mary Ann style".

The combination of pictures and captions should make it self explanatory.

Cheers

Dennis

CC19 #100 "Mary Ann"

[GRIMSHAW]

Excellent picture sequence. It seems like the system my colleague uses on his Parker 21 with a spinnaker pole replacing your strut and is les com-plicated than the bowsprit method (which we used today) which requires careful tensioning of the sidestays.

[Ru88ell]

Is the HM mast so heavy then? With my SA one I just put the pivot bolt through and push the mast up from the cockpit step. Then I pop the lower bolt through before attaching shrouds.

[Dennis]

Hello Russell

I weighed mine when I had it stripped down for varnishing. 25 Kg. probably about 27Kg with the hounds fitting, nav lights etc.

Thats the same weight as my outboard motor. And it is not easy lifting that above my head.

I have raised the mast the way you described, but it was not easy. A lot will depend on your physical stature and strength. Unfortunately (In this case) I am only 5' 7".

My previous boat (a Winkle Brig) was never a problem, the mast on that was also solid wood, but only 3" dia compared with the 4" dia on the CC19. That extra inch does make a big difference;)


Cheers

Dennis

CC19 #100 Mary Ann

[ianrmaciver]

Dennis,
Having just broken my halliard block in a vain attempt to raise the mast using the bowsprit , I would like to see the photos describing your method. It doesn't appear to be in the albums area.
I'll be repairing the deck mounted halliard block using the link you gave for 6 mm eye nuts.
Ian

[Dennis]

Hello Ian

My yankee/genoa halyard is tied off at a cleat mounted on the side of the tabernacle. I do not use the deck mounted turning blocks for that halyard.

To raise the mast I do the following:

1. [color="Red"][/color]Raise bowsprit [color="Black"][/color]so that the bobstay is vertical when under tension.

2. [color="Red"][/color]Tighten bowsprit shrouds. [color="Black"][/color]This is important, to prevent the bowsprit from pulling to one side and potentially being torn from it's mounting. I have devised a (quick) system using small Sea-Sure blocks and cam cleats. (Picture in album "Mary Ann Modifications")

3. [color="Red"][/color]Connect yankee halyard directly to furling drum.[color="Black"][/color] My double block (outhaul) is permanently attached to the furling drum.

4. [color="Red"][/color]Shorten the yankee halyard,[color="Black"][/color] allowing the outhaul line to run through the double blocks. Tie off the halyard (I use a cleat on side of tabernacle. You could use the boom gooseneck fitting) at a suitable length to allow the mast to be raised.

5. Standing in cockpit, [color="Red"][/color]take up slack in outhaul line.[color="Black"][/color]

6. [color="Red"][/color]Raise mast onto shoulder[color="Black"][/color] (to reduce the initial high load on the tablenacle) and [color="Red"][/color]commence hauling in the (outhaul) line.[color="Black"][/color] The mast lifts getting progressively easier the higher it gets.

7. [color="Red"][/color]Once raised, tie off the outhaul line [color="Black"][/color]to keep the mast up until you fit the forestay.


Quite long winded to describe, but in reality very quick and easy to do.
As long as you are aware of the very high loads involved (initially) there shoud be no problems.

I have reduced the effort required, by fitting ball bearing blocks for outhaul/mast raising duties. You will probably have realised that I use the same blocks for yankee/genoa luff tensioning, with the halyard tied off at the cleat I have mounted on the side of the tabernacle.

[ianrmaciver]

Thanks Dennis ,
That's pretty clear , still don't know why I can't see the original photo sequence , perhaps it was the change from the original site.
Re. the mast , it really is a bit of a lump , I'm wondering if the section from just above the tabernacle to just below the shroud mast band could be relatively easily replaced with a carbon fibre / glass fibre or even aluminium tube . Doesn't sound too pretty , but could prevent a hernia.
Ian

[Dennis]

Hello Ian

I have added a photo to the "Mary Ann" album.

David Peck has made a carbon fibre mast for "Whistling Rufus". Check out his posts and photos.

I like the idea of replacing the parallel round section only, would be fairly simple to do.

I would opt for carbon fibre, preferably clad in real wood veneer, for aesthetic reasons.

[Nick Martin]

Finally someone has mentioned aluminium .. so I can come out of the closet .. a couple of years ago I made an aluminium mast .. very easy and less than £100 to build .. a single 5m length of 4" tube brings you to the hounds and above this I have sleeved a narrower and thinner section (for weight, appearance and sacrificial - in case of failure) ..

Did a load of maths to try and sort out the wall thickness - but finished with numbers that gave an overall weight slightly less than my wonderful hollow birdsmouth SA mast .. which is what you would expect - from childhood I remember being told that weight for strength, a good hollow wood section is very little different from aluminium .. but there has been some weight saving even in my case (it would be a lot more if swapping a solid HM / Collar mast) ..

So far I have left the metal raw as I reckon it will cost the same again to paint it properly!! .. and, I'm undecided about a white or grained finish (or a bit of both) - or even veneer (perhaps a heavy luxary to have aloft) .. very little corrosion to date .. so pressing on as is for the moment

Last November I was in a big blow on a broad reach in the Firth of Clyde .. colossal gusts were coming over the Kintyre Penisnular .. I failed to head up for one of the bigger ones (that I hadn't spotted on account of making hot chocolate whilst steering etc) .. I was forced to bear away under the rig and eventually the boat took off .. she was absolutely flying .. finally surfing down the waves .. humming like a dinghy! .. and nothing busted (staysail and 2 reefs in main) .. so I'm using the same mast this year ....

As for mast raising .. it's easier than even the SA mast - but still a bit of a grunt .. maybe carbon in time but I was reluctant on grounds of cost and understanding the loads (especially the stability of the tube at the gaff jaw contact)

[ianrmaciver]

Sounds like a successful innovation Nick , and your slightly unplanned "full load" test , must have been exciting and looking back , reassuring.
I'm going to rely on grunt , plus crew , plus the scheme outlined by Dennis for this season....but come the winter I may well be tempted.
Any chance of photos?