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30-08-2012, 09:06
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
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Climbing a Mast
My boat is a 20 ft kingfisher bilge keel.
I want to use a couple of constricting sling strap knots to shimmy up my mast to replace a mainsail halyard. My question is if i consider the water line the pivot point acting as a fulcrum and my 22 ft mast giving approximately a 5:1 ratio to the keels with my 225 lbs near the top is it possible for the boat to heel over while Im trying to go up. The keels are supposed to be 1100 lbs . To me the math suggest its possible. I just see pictures of people in boson chairs going up but the boats are larger than mine.
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30-08-2012, 09:18
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Boat: 'Pacific 30' sloop - being optimized for singlehanding
Posts: 153
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Re: climbing a mast
Rough calculation. Figure out what your 225 lbs at 20 feet above deck will do to stability. That's about 4500 foot pounds to compensate. Then your keel adds 1,100 pounds at say 2.5 feet below the CG, so it gives you less than 3,000 lbs of stability. Thus I would not recommend going aloft as you describe.
At the best, you will take a large heeling angle when you reach somewhere above the spreaders, and not be able to climb any higher with the strops.
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30-08-2012, 09:24
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Somewhere in Germany
Boat: OEM, proportional
Posts: 1,437
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Re: Climbing a Mast
If the halyard is still where it belongs, why not use the old to pull the new one through?
__________________
Ps 139:9-10 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
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30-08-2012, 09:25
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
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Re: Climbing a Mast
Thanks that's what I thought . I guess the people who are doing this have far more weight in the keel than I do. Looks like I ma just go park next to a bridge and bring the mast up to the rail and drop it from there . I also just wanted to practice for emergency when a offshore problem might crop up Looks like I better practice un stepping the mast LOL . Thanks for the reply .
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30-08-2012, 09:30
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
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Re: Climbing a Mast
I was doing that and not knowing the proper method to make a slpce between old and new halyard . I used tape that was to stiff and when I tried to pull it thru the pulley then they came apart. Now I have to go up or its gotta come down.
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30-08-2012, 09:31
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#6
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cruiser
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Tampa Bay area
Boat: Hunter 31'
Posts: 5,731
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Re: Climbing a Mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by Last Call
Thanks that's what I thought . I guess the people who are doing this have far more weight in the keel than I do. Looks like I ma just go park next to a bridge and bring the mast up to the rail and drop it from there . I also just wanted to practice for emergency when a offshore problem might crop up Looks like I better practice un stepping the mast LOL . Thanks for the reply .
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My first boat was "tippy," and when someone had to go up the mast, they rafted a larger sailboat next to mine, went up *that* mast, and then (pretty easily) tipped my mast over for the work it needed.
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30-08-2012, 09:36
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
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Re: Climbing a Mast
That is a good Idea I could pull it over with my topping lift.
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30-08-2012, 09:42
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#8
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CF Adviser
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
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Re: Climbing a Mast
Why do it the wrong way when the right way is so easy?
The Kingfisher 20 was designed as a trailer sailor. Incredibly easy to pull a 22' mast when it's deck-stepped. While you are replacing the halyard, you'll have a great opportunity to inspect the rig, replace the masthead fly, anchor light, et cetera.
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
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30-08-2012, 09:54
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 61
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Re: Climbing a Mast
I wish I knew the best procedure to drop it single handed. It would be a good while before I can get help the boats 2 hours away.
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30-08-2012, 10:00
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,959
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Should be trivial to lower that tiny mast. With some careful rigging it can be done singlehanded. With two friends it should be simple.
Yes, climbing the mast could make a hilarious photo-op. But you could also guy it to a dock on either side.
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30-08-2012, 10:23
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: San Diego
Boat: Pearson 39-2 "Sea Story"
Posts: 1,109
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How is the mast stepped? Even without a system, it can probably be unstepped with two people of reasonable strength, one holding onto the mast itself and guiding it down, holding most the weight and the other holding onto the forestay to provide breaking power if necessary. Personally, I would do this for the first time on land.
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30-08-2012, 10:46
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Somewhere in Germany
Boat: OEM, proportional
Posts: 1,437
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Re: Climbing a Mast
Always loved watching the caber being tossed. Going to post videos?
__________________
Ps 139:9-10 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
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30-08-2012, 11:04
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Boat: 'Pacific 30' sloop - being optimized for singlehanding
Posts: 153
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Re: Climbing a Mast
micah719 - I'm looking to convert my 30 foot sloop to junk rig. Would you mind an off-CF discussion of your rig? bill dot higgins at expeditors dot com. I hope you have time to respond.
Thanks, - BH
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30-08-2012, 11:06
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#14
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 14,679
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Re: Climbing a Mast
I used to drop and raise the mast of a 25 foot trailerable yacht I once owned on my own, it was a lightish section. 20 feet should be easy, but get two or three strongish adults just to make sure, for the first time.
Tie the mast base so it can pivot, but not move forward as it is lowered.
I would not go up the mast on a yacht this small.
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30-08-2012, 11:25
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,594
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Re: Climbing a Mast
Dropping the mast should be a snap, NO pun intended.
You're a 225 lb person, I'm a 140 lb person and I used to drop my San Juan 21 mast single handed in less than 30 minutes on or off the waterB
You should be able to hold that mast at a 45 with one hand. Loosen the rear and any mid shrouds. Remove the fore shrouds. Attach a line to the forestay (because you lost your halyard, otherwise just use the halyard. Take this line through a block at the bow and back to the cockpit/cabin top area. You'll need to have a hold of this line to let it out as the mast drops. Remove the forestay and start letting it fall back while letting out which ever line is run through the block at the bow.f Once at about a 45 grasp with both hands and ease it down
Reverse to raise...
Best of luck
__________________
Randy
Cape Dory 25D Seraph
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