by tomodda » Tue Aug 23, 2022 9:47 am
Erick:
Adding on to what GL wrote, my method for raising the tabernacle-stepped mast is to use the jib halyard to pull it up. Assuming boat is on the trailer, here's how I do it:
1) Lie the mast down over the transom and cuddy roof and connect the foot to the rear hinge of the tabernacle. This is by far the hardest part, and I'll put some notes on how I do it below. But first step is to get in the cockpit and walk the mast straight back from it's "trailering position" to line up the foot with the tabernacle. Masthead will wind up some 10 feet behind the trailer, so make sure you have space! Also make sure both side shrouds are connected and clear of any obstructions. This is crucial, if you don't attach your side shrouds, then the mast WILL fall sideways (don't ask me how I know). Secure your forestay somewhere so it doesn't flop around, I usually secure it to a side shroud.
2) Uncleat your jib halyard, pull the "sail-end" of the line forward and clip it to the stemhead, same hole normally use for the tack of the jib. Just like rigging the jib normally, except there is no jib!
3) Get up in the cockpit, towards the back, and lift the mast onto your shoulder... relatively easy to do thanks to leverage.
4) Walk the mast forward, lifting it till you can grab the jib halyard, roughly somewhere above 45 degrees.
5) Pull DOWN on the jib halyard, that will raise the mast to vertical. Continue guiding the mast with your shoulder or other hand.
5) As soon as the mast is vertical, cleat your jib halyrad, with as much tension as possible. Ideally, your mast will bend forward a bit (1/2 inch). Your mast is now secure, and you can let go of it.
6) Go forward (hop out of the cockpit) and fasten your fore-stay to the stemhead, normal position. If it doesn't quite reach (not enough tension on the jib halyard) and you don't have a helper to push forward on the mast a bit, then I have a little trick. Since you need both hands to fasten the forestay, you can't just pull down on the jib halyard from the bow. Instead, I PUSH the jib halyard - deflect it like a bow-string - with my elbow or shoulder. That's usually just enough to bring the hounds of the mast forward enough to clip the forestay in. It's always that last 1/4 inch!
7) That's it! Now you can put in the forward pin on the tabernacle and slack the jib halyard. May as well leave it clipped onto the stemhead though, since you'll be rigging the jib itself next. You could do the forward pin before Step 6, but I like to get the forestay rigged asap.
Note that this method involves a lot of hopping in and out of the cockpit while boat is on trailer. I'm lazy, I got myself a small step-ladder to help. Yes, I lost it (left in the boatyard), so my wife gifted me a foldable large-tread super-safe pantry ladder with handrails, even better. I keep it in the cockpit when trailering, in the back seat of car while sailing. Also, as my strength got better, I'm no longer walking the mast up from back of cockpit. I just hoist it on my shoulder while standing on the thwarts (in your case, straddling the CB right behind the cuddy door). Then I turn and push it to vertical and tension the halyard - skipping to step #5 above. The mast is relatively light - 40 pounds - it's the leverage that kills you. By attaching it to the tabernacle and positioning yourself properly, you can overcome the leverage and lift it by hand if you want. Use the jib halyard to either help you or to just secure the mast while clipping in the forestay. It's all good.
Lastly, how to attach the foot to the tabernacle (Step #1). The problem is that once you lay the mast across the transom, then the foot will not reach the tabernacle without the mast gouging into the roof and anyway the mast will not balance, it'll flip straight off the transom. Bad angle! My trick is to pile up boat cushions on my transom to lift the mast to horizontal, problem solved. However, DS2's don't have a flat transom area, nowhere to pile cushions. I suggest you make yourself a mast crutch of some sort, I think you'll already need one for trailering. Mast needs to start out at the same level as the tabernacle, and horizontal or a bit higher. Again, this is the trickiest part to do alone. With a helper, though, it's a doddle. Remember to pay your crew in beer! Also, it's best if you raise the mast on level ground, but if you're on a slope then park with the bow facing downwards. Much easier to raise mast.
That's it, hope the instructions are useful.
Fair winds!