Raise mast on the water?

[JamesToBoot]

I think my favs were:

• stepping onto the dock instead of going up and down the ladder
• falling off the boat means falling in the water or to the dock, and not 6ft to the ground

Those are big pluses. Many times I've felt a bit nervous about falling from the deck while on the trailer. It's a long hard fall.

Interesting that the power company owns the ramp. Power companies are usually out cutting limbs from power lines to prevent issues. Surely they have crews that could take out the trees over the ramp. I would seriously suggest it to them. If not for you, for the next sailboat captain who needs a decent ramp.

Then again, maybe the secluded aspect of the ramp is why it's not very busy.

You will find raising the mast on the water is not difficult at all, as long as the water is calm.

Yep, hydro power lake. We like hydro here in SC. So because the lake is owned by the power company, most of the public ramps are also owned by them.

Good argument. You've just convinced me to reach out and ask. Thank you sir.

[pitchpolehobie]

Great encouragement guys,

Lots of good information and arguments for raising the mast on the water.

I think my favs were:

• stepping onto the dock instead of going up and down the ladder
• falling off the boat means falling in the water or to the dock, and not 6ft to the ground

Im am seriously considering it. Thanks for all the good comments showing its not only possible, but might even be preferable in some instances (if not necessary due to circumstances at the ramp)

Are you able to have a 2nd person with you to raise and lower the mast? In spite of seeing the singlehanded raising of mast videos and having done it myself before, i think the margin of safety is improved with a 2nd able bodied person.

[JamesToBoot]

Great encouragement guys,

Lots of good information and arguments for raising the mast on the water.

I think my favs were:

• stepping onto the dock instead of going up and down the ladder
• falling off the boat means falling in the water or to the dock, and not 6ft to the ground

Im am seriously considering it. Thanks for all the good comments showing its not only possible, but might even be preferable in some instances (if not necessary due to circumstances at the ramp)

Are you able to have a 2nd person with you to raise and lower the mast? In spite of seeing the singlehanded raising of mast videos and having done it myself before, i think the margin of safety is improved with a 2nd able bodied person.

no sir, I am numero uno. Maybe when the kiddos get a little older I'll have my 'Number One' back.

Im getting really good at getting it up. Slow and easy does the trick. Pretty reliable. Able to adjust as it goes up. I can pull it an inch-at-a-time to make sure it doesn't get stuck. Making the last adjustments to the rope style baby-stays to get them perfectly dialed in. Once commpleted, should be pretty secure and should give me the confidence needed to try it on the water.

I am contemplating creating baby-stays attach to the lower shrowd stays instead of the cleat on the mast. Idea is that it would be more stable and with less stress on the system. Maybe Id leave them in place, or maybe I would stow them against the mast somehow. That might be a project for next season. Thoughs?

[Be Free]

I've raised my mast a couple of hundred times. I've had help a couple of dozen times. If you have one of the mast raising systems it's not hard to do single-handed.

Now, I've never turned down help from an able-bodied crew member, but I've never let the lack of one slow me down either. My standard answer when someone asks how long it takes to get the boat rigged for sailing is, "Around forty five minutes by myself, maybe an hour if I have help."

[JamesToBoot]

I've raised my mast a couple of hundred times. I've had help a couple of dozen times. If you have one of the mast raising systems it's not hard to do single-handed.

Now, I've never turned down help from an able-bodied crew member, but I've never let the lack of one slow me down either. My standard answer when someone asks how long it takes to get the boat rigged for sailing is, "Around forty five minutes by myself, maybe an hour if I have help."

that is accurate.

Plus it gives me peace of mind doing everything myself, making sure everything I touch is done right. If something goes wrong, its on me so I cant be frustrated at someone else who doesn't know. Everyone has a better time if dada gets everything ready first, before anyone arives. Its my hobby, Im just excited to share it w my fam; no need to needlessly burden them.

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

I agree

Many times I've felt a bit nervous about falling from the deck while on the trailer. It's a long hard fall

Ouchie!
I’ve noticed, and maybe it just me, but I don’t bounce very well any more….

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[FittsFly]

Raising it on the water is exactly like raising it on land with 2 exceptions, ( note I do have a mast raising winch)
#1 To attach the side stays you have to lay on your stomach and maybe have someone holding your feet while you attach them.
#2 While doing #1 you have to be careful the little pins and curly Q rings dont slip out of your fingers!!

[Russ]

"Around forty five minutes by myself, maybe an hour if I have help."

Much depends on the "help".

Rigging the boat with my son goes lightning fast. I think we did it last time in 30 minutes. Mostly because I don't have to tell him what to do. We split the chores and cut the time. We've got it down to a fast system. He's rigging lines while I install the solar panel, etc.

Recently, when I was putting the cover on the boat, the "help" slows me down. Sometimes it's faster and easier when you don't have to give instructions and stop to teach someone how to do it.

[NiceAft]

It also depends on the boat.

The X mast is significantly lighter than the mast on the M. Rick Boucher (Bermuda Breeze) used to rig his X, by himself, in thirty minutes. He was not a muscle man, he just pushed up that X mast.

Rick at the helm of Bermuda Breeze, along with Nice Afts Admiral.

[Be Free]

Raising it on the water is exactly like raising it on land with 2 exceptions, ( note I do have a mast raising winch)
#1 To attach the side stays you have to lay on your stomach and maybe have someone holding your feet while you attach them.
#2 While doing #1 you have to be careful the little pins and curly Q rings dont slip out of your fingers!!

I'm confused about #1. Do you remove your shrouds (side stays?) or are you referring to the "baby stays" used while raising and lowering the mast?

[Be Free]

"Around forty five minutes by myself, maybe an hour if I have help."

Much depends on the "help".

Rigging the boat with my son goes lightning fast. I think we did it last time in 30 minutes. Mostly because I don't have to tell him what to do. We split the chores and cut the time. We've got it down to a fast system. He's rigging lines while I install the solar panel, etc.

Recently, when I was putting the cover on the boat, the "help" slows me down. Sometimes it's faster and easier when you don't have to give instructions and stop to teach someone how to do it.

That statement was partially tongue-in-cheek. At one point my younger brother was sailing with me a lot. We got the process down to a science and could get down around the 30 minute mark as well. The hour (sometimes more) to raise the mast with "help" is when I have someone who has not done it before and often does not even know the terms.

It really helps if you both speak the same language. If I'm unstrapping the shrouds and stays and can say, "Bring me the MRS and baby stays. They are on the port side of the aft bunk." it doesn't slow the process at all. On the other hand, "Go down in the cabin and then face the back of the boat. On your right you will see a pole with some pulley's and a rope on them as well as some coiled up cables. Bring them to me please. (time passes) No, that is a whisker pole," (no pulleys, no rope, from the other side of the bunk), "and those are spare dock lines." (from under the forward settee). Rinse and repeat as necessary.

[JamesToBoot]

...
It really helps if you both speak the same language. If I'm unstrapping the shrouds and stays and can say, "Bring me the MRS and baby stays. They are on the port side of the aft bunk." it doesn't slow the process at all. On the other hand, "Go down in the cabin and then face the back of the boat. On your right you will see a pole with some pulley's and a rope on them as well as some coiled up cables. Bring them to me please. (time passes) No, that is a whisker pole," (no pulleys, no rope, from the other side of the bunk), "and those are spare dock lines." (from under the forward settee). Rinse and repeat as necessary.

*laughing my behind off* Glad Im not the only one who has these problems.

I also have to add in that I can't remember my left from right, much less port from starboard, and cant even remember what the name is for the thing-a-ma-jigs I put on my feet.... so giving anyone directions is not only in a language they can't understand, its a language I cant understand either!!!!

[kmclemore]

...
It really helps if you both speak the same language. If I'm unstrapping the shrouds and stays and can say, "Bring me the MRS and baby stays. They are on the port side of the aft bunk." it doesn't slow the process at all. On the other hand, "Go down in the cabin and then face the back of the boat. On your right you will see a pole with some pulley's and a rope on them as well as some coiled up cables. Bring them to me please. (time passes) No, that is a whisker pole," (no pulleys, no rope, from the other side of the bunk), "and those are spare dock lines." (from under the forward settee). Rinse and repeat as necessary.

*laughing my behind off* Glad I'm not the only one who has these problems.

You are DEFINITELY NOT the only one with these problems. I have the songbook, the hat *AND* the t-shirt for these problems.

[Russ]

That statement was partially tongue-in-cheek. At one point my younger brother was sailing with me a lot. We got the process down to a science and could get down around the 30 minute mark as well. The hour (sometimes more) to raise the mast with "help" is when I have someone who has not done it before and often does not even know the terms.

It really helps if you both speak the same language. If I'm unstrapping the shrouds and stays and can say, "Bring me the MRS and baby stays. They are on the port side of the aft bunk." it doesn't slow the process at all. On the other hand, "Go down in the cabin and then face the back of the boat. On your right you will see a pole with some pulley's and a rope on them as well as some coiled up cables. Bring them to me please. (time passes) No, that is a whisker pole," (no pulleys, no rope, from the other side of the bunk), "and those are spare dock lines." (from under the forward settee). Rinse and repeat as necessary.

Exactly.

My son is a seasoned sailor and we speak the same language. In fact, he knows what needs to be done most of the time and we are off doing separate tasks. eg: He's attaching the solar panel while I'm attaching the boom.
He's a gem and has improved our rigging routine by suggesting we bring certain tools to expedite the process.

I hate to embarrass her, but the Admiral hasn't learned all the terms. When I ask her to attach the antenna to the top of the mast, it's a difficult conversation and often easier/faster if I just hop off the boat and do it myself. "Which way do I turn this thing?" "Does it go in this way or the other?" Oy. She has learned to leave the boys alone to do the rigging.

[Be Free]

That statement was partially tongue-in-cheek. At one point my younger brother was sailing with me a lot. We got the process down to a science and could get down around the 30 minute mark as well. The hour (sometimes more) to raise the mast with "help" is when I have someone who has not done it before and often does not even know the terms.

It really helps if you both speak the same language. If I'm unstrapping the shrouds and stays and can say, "Bring me the MRS and baby stays. They are on the port side of the aft bunk." it doesn't slow the process at all. On the other hand, "Go down in the cabin and then face the back of the boat. On your right you will see a pole with some pulley's and a rope on them as well as some coiled up cables. Bring them to me please. (time passes) No, that is a whisker pole," (no pulleys, no rope, from the other side of the bunk), "and those are spare dock lines." (from under the forward settee). Rinse and repeat as necessary.

Exactly.

My son is a seasoned sailor and we speak the same language. In fact, he knows what needs to be done most of the time and we are off doing separate tasks. eg: He's attaching the solar panel while I'm attaching the boom.
He's a gem and has improved our rigging routine by suggesting we bring certain tools to expedite the process.

I hate to embarrass her, but the Admiral hasn't learned all the terms. When I ask her to attach the antenna to the top of the mast, it's a difficult conversation and often easier/faster if I just hop off the boat and do it myself. "Which way do I turn this thing?" "Does it go in this way or the other?" Oy. She has learned to leave the boys alone to do the rigging.

Or as she taught you to leave her alone?