Hello All,
I've just purchased an S2 7.9 and am excited as hell. I plan on raising the mast in a couple days and was wondering if anyone had a step by step mast raising diagram that I could use. Helpful tips are appreciated as well.
-Can't Wait
Mast Raising
Moderators: sderby, Tim Bosma, Tom Elsen
Mast raising
Hi Clay, welcome to the 7.9 bunch! Give me a call at home some evening and I will walk you through it. It is very simple but some cautions are needed. 507-665-6724 Jeff Mootz Skyhawk #250
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mast raising
We have a 19 step method that I have documented in a recipe for raising and an 18 step for lowering. The support pole is a 2-pipe sliding arrangement that hangs on the rudder pintles. The upper end is a U-shaped bracket with a bow roller in it. We can slide the upper pole up and down and pin it in place at 18" intervals. Here's the recipe:
Steps to set up rig to raise mast are:
1. Hang support pole on rudder pintles.
2. Set mast in support post and move mast back on boat until shoe is in mast step.
3. Pin the shoe in place.
4. Attach a block to the toe rail on each side of the mast step.
5. Attach a block to the port bow cleat.
6. Attach the spinnaker pole to the mast ring.
7. Tie the shackle end of the jib halyard to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
8. Run the free end of this jib halyard through the deck blocks at base of mast to a line stopper.
9. Tie two sheets to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
10. Run these sheets to the starboard/port blocks and back to their respective cockpit winches.
11. Tie a spinnaker sheet to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
12. Run the spinnaker sheet to the block on the bow and back to a cabin top winch.
13. Trim the jib halyard and the sheets to set the spinnaker pole perpendicular to the mast.
14. Run the shackle end of the spinnaker halyard to the bow pulpit and tie it off.
15. Run the free end of spinnaker halyard through the deck blocks at base of mast to a line stopper.
16. You can now raise the mast by cranking the cabin top winch (Spinnaker Sheet) while using the sheets in the cockpit to keep the mast centered over the boat.
17. Snug the spinnaker halyard (15) as mast is raised as a fail-safe against dropping.
18. Make fore stay.
19. Sail
Steps to set up rig to lower mast are:
1. Hang support pole on rudder pintles.
2. Attach a block to the toe rail on each side of the mast step.
3. Attach a block to the port bow cleat.
4. Attach the spinnaker pole to the mast ring.
5. Tie the shackle end of the jib halyard to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
6. Tie two sheets to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
7. Run these sheets to the starboard/port blocks and back to their respective cockpit winches.
8. Tie a spinnaker sheet to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
9. Run the spinnaker sheet to the block on the bow and back to a cabin top winch and snug it up.
10. Trim the jib halyard and the sheets to set the spinnaker pole perpendicular to the mast.
11. Run the shackle end of the spinnaker halyard to the bow pulpit and tie it off.
12. Snug the spinnaker halyard as a fail-safe against dropping.
13. Tighten the spinnaker sheet to ease the fore stay
14. Unmake fore stay.
15. You can now lower the mast by easing the cabin top winch (Spinnaker Sheet) while using the sheets in the cockpit to keep the mast centered over the boat.
16. Lay mast down into the support post.
17. Unpin the shoe in place.
18. Set mast in supports, tie down for travel/storage.
Steps to set up rig to raise mast are:
1. Hang support pole on rudder pintles.
2. Set mast in support post and move mast back on boat until shoe is in mast step.
3. Pin the shoe in place.
4. Attach a block to the toe rail on each side of the mast step.
5. Attach a block to the port bow cleat.
6. Attach the spinnaker pole to the mast ring.
7. Tie the shackle end of the jib halyard to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
8. Run the free end of this jib halyard through the deck blocks at base of mast to a line stopper.
9. Tie two sheets to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
10. Run these sheets to the starboard/port blocks and back to their respective cockpit winches.
11. Tie a spinnaker sheet to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
12. Run the spinnaker sheet to the block on the bow and back to a cabin top winch.
13. Trim the jib halyard and the sheets to set the spinnaker pole perpendicular to the mast.
14. Run the shackle end of the spinnaker halyard to the bow pulpit and tie it off.
15. Run the free end of spinnaker halyard through the deck blocks at base of mast to a line stopper.
16. You can now raise the mast by cranking the cabin top winch (Spinnaker Sheet) while using the sheets in the cockpit to keep the mast centered over the boat.
17. Snug the spinnaker halyard (15) as mast is raised as a fail-safe against dropping.
18. Make fore stay.
19. Sail
Steps to set up rig to lower mast are:
1. Hang support pole on rudder pintles.
2. Attach a block to the toe rail on each side of the mast step.
3. Attach a block to the port bow cleat.
4. Attach the spinnaker pole to the mast ring.
5. Tie the shackle end of the jib halyard to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
6. Tie two sheets to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
7. Run these sheets to the starboard/port blocks and back to their respective cockpit winches.
8. Tie a spinnaker sheet to the outboard end of the spinnaker pole.
9. Run the spinnaker sheet to the block on the bow and back to a cabin top winch and snug it up.
10. Trim the jib halyard and the sheets to set the spinnaker pole perpendicular to the mast.
11. Run the shackle end of the spinnaker halyard to the bow pulpit and tie it off.
12. Snug the spinnaker halyard as a fail-safe against dropping.
13. Tighten the spinnaker sheet to ease the fore stay
14. Unmake fore stay.
15. You can now lower the mast by easing the cabin top winch (Spinnaker Sheet) while using the sheets in the cockpit to keep the mast centered over the boat.
16. Lay mast down into the support post.
17. Unpin the shoe in place.
18. Set mast in supports, tie down for travel/storage.
-
Guest
I use one of two methods to raise my mast. First, my two step method.
1. Offer another 7.9 crew free beer.
2. Step back and watch the mast go up.
Otherwise, A group of 3 guys can do it assuming they're reasonably strong.
Tie your genoa halyard to one bow cleat, and your spinnaker to another. One person will pull in both these lines. One is a safety that should be lead through some kind of jam/cam cleat, the other is wrapped around a winch.
(My shrouds are never detached). Assuming you've already through-bolted your mast onto the deck bracket, the two guys, starting at the rear of the boat, lift the mast and walk forward slowly raising the mast, until they reach the cabin top. The guy with the ropes still isn't supporting any real load, so he holds the mast there (from below, lock your arms and straddle the cockpit standing on the seats) while the other two up onto the deck. They then grab the mast and start lifting.
There are two tricks here. First, make sure your shrouds and your backstay are COMPLETELY clear. Especially your back stay, because if it kinks you can put a nice bend in the wire. So, assuming everything is straight, the two guys basically throw the mast vertical as quickly as they can. The shrouds will tension up as the mast gets closer to vertical and the guy pulling in the halyards will keep it from falling back. once it's up and supported by the halyards, you can use the winch to pull it in a couple more feet to make attaching the headfoil easy.
Dropping the mast: one guy on the deck, and the other in the cockpit catching. One guy lowers the mast by the halyards. Remeber with both up and down, don't stop half way. The mast can swing to either side and do some serious damage. The mast swings down, and the guy on deck just tries to keep the speed manageable. The one in the cockpit "catches" it, and holds it while the guy on deck comes back to help with with final lowering.
1. Offer another 7.9 crew free beer.
2. Step back and watch the mast go up.
Otherwise, A group of 3 guys can do it assuming they're reasonably strong.
Tie your genoa halyard to one bow cleat, and your spinnaker to another. One person will pull in both these lines. One is a safety that should be lead through some kind of jam/cam cleat, the other is wrapped around a winch.
(My shrouds are never detached). Assuming you've already through-bolted your mast onto the deck bracket, the two guys, starting at the rear of the boat, lift the mast and walk forward slowly raising the mast, until they reach the cabin top. The guy with the ropes still isn't supporting any real load, so he holds the mast there (from below, lock your arms and straddle the cockpit standing on the seats) while the other two up onto the deck. They then grab the mast and start lifting.
There are two tricks here. First, make sure your shrouds and your backstay are COMPLETELY clear. Especially your back stay, because if it kinks you can put a nice bend in the wire. So, assuming everything is straight, the two guys basically throw the mast vertical as quickly as they can. The shrouds will tension up as the mast gets closer to vertical and the guy pulling in the halyards will keep it from falling back. once it's up and supported by the halyards, you can use the winch to pull it in a couple more feet to make attaching the headfoil easy.
Dropping the mast: one guy on the deck, and the other in the cockpit catching. One guy lowers the mast by the halyards. Remeber with both up and down, don't stop half way. The mast can swing to either side and do some serious damage. The mast swings down, and the guy on deck just tries to keep the speed manageable. The one in the cockpit "catches" it, and holds it while the guy on deck comes back to help with with final lowering.
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Clay Heinz
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 12:17 pm
- Location: Ft. Myers Florida
Thanks!
Thank you all for your input- it made the entire process much less confusing and easier.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Support Pole height
Tom,
How high above the transom do you raise your mast support pole?
Thanks!
How high above the transom do you raise your mast support pole?
Thanks!
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Dave Grover
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2003 1:43 pm
mast raising
Keep an eye on the side support lines. If you attach them to the rails, they will tighten or loosen as the mast goes up or down because they don't pivot on the same axis as the mast does. You either have to constantly tighten or loosen them with the method that Bosma uses, or you need a way to have them pivot in line with the bolt in the mast base.
I can fax a diagram and description of a way to do the latter.
It is also shown on homestead.com/Fleet7/.
I can fax a diagram and description of a way to do the latter.
It is also shown on homestead.com/Fleet7/.
Dave's right. The side lines do require constant attention while raising and lowering the mast. We have had the mast topple twice before we started using this method, so we are very concerned about side to side movement. While raising or lowering, we have a man in the cockpit attending these lines.
The jack pole extends about 6 or 7' above the transom when fully extended.
Thanks,
The jack pole extends about 6 or 7' above the transom when fully extended.
Thanks,
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Stef
Mast raising
Do you guys find it easier to step the mast while on the trailer or in the water?
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Stef
I thought so! I am moving up from a Hobie 16 and always stepped while on the trailer. It was considerably easier on the trailer since you could have a helper walk around the boat. The fellow I purchased from always did it in the water, I couldn't understand why. I guess everyone does it what ever way they feel most comfortable with. I have downloaded the sketch in PDF and also read the 19 steps. I must say it sounds confusing, especial when you dont know what everything is called. The previous owner also supplied me with some sort of "A" frame about 6' high with trailer roller at the top, he said it's for raising the mast. I'm covered up for the winter and wont worry until April. Thanks for the response!
Stef
Stef
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Mark Gutteridge
Hi All;
We have discovered one thing that we found that makes the process of raising the mast easier.We do not connect the split backstays until the mast has been raised and the forestay connected.This eliminates the nasty habit of getting the backstay caught up on the outboard motor bracket or anything else handy for it to invariably get caught up on.
This eliminates one more thing to worry about.It is a terrible feeling when you are half erect and you catch up on something and have to lower the mast to clear the problem.
CHIMO;
GUTS.
We have discovered one thing that we found that makes the process of raising the mast easier.We do not connect the split backstays until the mast has been raised and the forestay connected.This eliminates the nasty habit of getting the backstay caught up on the outboard motor bracket or anything else handy for it to invariably get caught up on.
This eliminates one more thing to worry about.It is a terrible feeling when you are half erect and you catch up on something and have to lower the mast to clear the problem.
CHIMO;
GUTS.
A frame?
Stef's mention of an "A frame" suggests that the previous owner may have used a technique more like the one we use. We create an A frame using the spinnaker pole and whisker pole attached to the gunwales just forward of the mast. It froms a crane at right angles to the mast. Attach the jib and spinnaker halyards to the "A" and a line forward to a snatch block at the stem fitting. That line is run back to a cabin top winch, and we crank the mast right up with almost no lifting. It still helps to have extra people on hand to keep the mast from swaying from side to side.
May sound complicated but works slick.
Jim Kloss
s/v Ambivalence
S2 7.9 #8
May sound complicated but works slick.
Jim Kloss
s/v Ambivalence
S2 7.9 #8
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Tom Elsen
- Site Admin
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 5:42 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, MN & Chicago, IL
Mast raising
If you're using the 'three guys heave it up' method, DO NOT STAND ON THE LEXAN COMPANIONWAY COVER. It can shatter under the load and create one bloody mess. Plant your guys in the right spot and make sure they don't step or stand on the hatch. Very important.
We have one person directly in front of the boat, with a long line attached to the forestay. This person hauls most of the load once the mast gets beyond about 40 degrees from horizontal. It makes control of the stick much easier.
Set up 'on the trailer' isn't much different from 'in the water'. Dropping the stick is easier with the boat in the water IMHO. The forestay-hauler is usually slightly above the level of the boat (instead of below it), and can control the mast load more effectively.
We have one person directly in front of the boat, with a long line attached to the forestay. This person hauls most of the load once the mast gets beyond about 40 degrees from horizontal. It makes control of the stick much easier.
Set up 'on the trailer' isn't much different from 'in the water'. Dropping the stick is easier with the boat in the water IMHO. The forestay-hauler is usually slightly above the level of the boat (instead of below it), and can control the mast load more effectively.
Best wishes,
Tom
Tom
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Larry Etheridge
Mast Raising
I use the set up that I got from the Class. I made a mast support with a roller on it. One person can do the whole job in 20 minutes. Let mast down onto roller, roll forward tie down and go.