New owner raising the mast

[Mcadieux]

Hi, Just became the new owner of a Venture 222. We tried raising the mast for the first time today, but it did not go so well. Lined the mast up and put in the bolt at the base. Had the girlfriend pull on a rope connected to the top while I lifted the mast. We did this with all the stays connected except the front. This was not an easy task, but we finally got the mast up or so we thought. The front stay was about 8in to short. Back stay was very loose. My brother said the mast was not 90deg vertical. No matter how I pulled or pushed on the mast it would not go vertical, but I couldn't see what it was stuck on. Any ideas/tips?? Another question can you walk on the pop top?? I'm a fluffy guy at 280lb didn't want to go through it.

[Tomfoolery]

We did this with all the stays connected except the front.

That's normal and proper.

This was not an easy task, but we finally got the mast up or so we thought. The front stay was about 8in to short. Back stay was very loose. My brother said the mast was not 90deg vertical. No matter how I pulled or pushed on the mast it would not go vertical, but I couldn't see what it was stuck on. Any ideas/tips??

I'm not very familiar with the V222, but it's likely the mast is not supposed to be at 90 degrees. They're usually raked back by some amount, maybe small, may large (like the X and M). Did you check to see that the shroud adjusters weren't 'inverted' or otherwise hung up? What exactly was stopping the mast from going up further? Did all four shrouds get taught at the same time?

And it's also possible you're missing a bit of hardware for the forestay, like an adjuster. How close to vertical did the mast actually get? There's probably a manual for that boat in the 'Resources' tab at the top of this page.

Another question can you walk on the pop top?? I'm a fluffy guy at 280lb didn't want to go through it.

Is your name Gabriel by any chance?

[yukonbob]

If the chainplates / turnbuckles were shortened / tightened all the way / too much you'd never be able to get it up. Try loosening them off all the way (keep them connected) and see if that does it. Then you have the wonderful task (if chainplates) of adjusting them.

[Mcadieux]

Tried raising it again today and it was a cluster the whole time. Trying to step up on the cabin top while holding the mast is impossible for me. Taking it down is even worse and just plan dangerous. Trying to find someone near me that has experience and can help but so far no luck. Was really hopeful about putting it I'm the water tomorrow just to play around a bit but looks like that's out. Noway me and the girlfriend will be able to get it up. Gonna try to find a gin pole tomorrow.

Biggest issue is the mast wants to swing side to side and I'm worried I'm gonna rip the step right off the boat.

[grady]

Noway me and the girlfriend will be able to get it up.

[dlandersson]

You might want to adjust your profile to show your location. Hard to help if no one knows where you are.

Trying to find someone near me that has experience and can help but so far no luck.

[Mac26Mpaul]

If you cant find anyone to help, give it another go with someone taking a video with appropriate close ups, and upload it to youtube set as an unlisted video and give us the link. I'm sure we could help ya work it out

And before anyone gets excited,, ,,,, I'm talking about a video of them raising the mast (the stick you hang the rag from), NOT of him trying to get it up

[Mcadieux]

Lol walked right into that one. I'm in Westport,Ma about an hour south of Boston. Gonna call around tomorrow and see if any place sells a gin pole or mast raising system that's not a small Fortune. I went and grab a 2x6 to try and make my own but I rather that be a last resort.

[Tomfoolery]

Biggest issue is the mast wants to swing side to side and I'm worried I'm gonna rip the step right off the boat.

The X and M boats use so-called 'baby stays' to hold the mast upright while raising. They also had an optional mast raising system (MRS), often called a gin pole, which you can buy complete from Bluewater Yachts (an advertiser here, and the main source of Mac replacement parts and accessories).

They sell the kit for about what it would cost you to make your own, by the way. $205, including baby stays. It uses a 350 lb capacity brake winch, which will hold the mast in any position when you let go of the handle, either raising or lowering. A conventional ratchet winch, like that used on the trailer, only holds the load going up, but you have to release the ratchet pawl to lower, and if it gets away from you, the result is busted knuckles, busted fingers, or a busted mast, and maybe a busted head if that's what the mast comes down on.

You can also make one using a length of EMT (the lightest gauge metal electrical conduit), or wood, and use either a brake winch (Dutton-Lainson 350 lb is what Mac used), or the main sheet block system, which would make it similar to the MRS sold for the X boats. You'd need to make lower brackets, which flare open to straddle the mast. And I'm not sure the mast step bracket is made for that anyway. Download the manual for the X to see what that looks like.

But if your biggest problem is keeping the mast from flopping to the side, you can just add a set of baby stays. The naked mast for that boat should be pretty light, and if you have help in the form of someone with a rope to assist (pass it through a cleat so the cleat does most of the work of holding), it should be a piece of cake to stand it up.

[Freedom77]

Hi, Mcadieux: We owned '71 V222. Never had this problem. Pics would help with diagnosis. As mentioned sounds like possible shroud issue. Do you know anyone with a sailboat who might look at it with you? By the way, best way to raise mast when you figure out problem is to have one person stand on cabin top on each side of mast. When raised have one person hold the mast and one person tie jib halyard to fore cleat for safety, then attach forestay. P.S. Don't recommend standing on sliding hatch. Good Luck, Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

[Mcadieux]

Thanks so much for the advice so far. We made a gin pole and took the boat to a boat ramp so we could work on a flat Surface. The yard were in has a slight hill perpindicular to the boat so that's probably not helping. Mast went up much easier with the gin pole. Still couldn't get the forward stay connected but believe I have found the issue. It seem one of our spreaders was Rotated causing the wire to be attached higher. We didn't try to raise again once we identified the problem because I want to widen the base of the gin pole first. What do you guys think, would this spreader issues cause my problem. Will post a picture when I figure out how lol

[Freedom77]

Don't quite understand "rotated". Was spreader reattached upside down at mast connection? This would explain not "getting it up" all the way Good Luck. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

[Mcadieux]

Here is what I think the problem is. I took pictures of everything if you want to see more.



This is how far it will go up

[kevinnem]

I can't tell from teh photos, ; but something looks wrong, .. is one side tight, an the other side lose?

where did you buy the boat form, . can you ask the owner if he had it set up ? .. did you adjust anything yet?

[mastreb]

It looks like someone may have put the spreader on upside down, and when the mast was lifted it got torqued? Nothing is bent, either the spreader or mast socket for it?