I’m looking for photos/diagrams, etc….of a gin pole set up or similar rig for solo-stepping a mast on a P19 while on the trailer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I guess you didn't read my post in my 'Mystere 6.0 refit project!' thread.
Shame on you.(sarc)
https://thebeachcats.com/forums/technical-help/mystere-6-0-refit-project/#post-346033
The post describes building a gallows frame to hold the end of the mast as well as a gin pole that I fabbed from 12'x 2"x2" aluminum extrusion with a welded-on 'foot' for sitting against the base of the mast.
As mentioned there, the only faux-pas that I had with raising the mast with the pole is that my winch strap was too short. Well, actually, I was lowering the mast without the trampoline in place, so you get the idea there. I had to add an extension line to the forestay to the pole to allow the mast to reach down to the gallows. The pole was then not very perpendicular to the mast, but it still worked ok. I used the trapeze lines to steady the mast laterally, and some extra line from the gin pole to each side of the front beam to steady the pole.
@cat-scratch I must have missed that part, but I like your idea. My biggest question was the gin pole to mast union, but I think I’ve figured that part out. My only other issue is the actual geometry and size of all the moving parts. The mast on my 19 is a beast for my old self.
The mast on my 19 is a beast for my old self.
Yeah, I get that. My Mystere's mast is 31.75' long. I think your P19's mast is about the same. Same as a pre-2004 aluminum Tornado mast.
I can lift it myself, but if I'm alone, I like options.
I lash the pole to the mast base. My mast has two eyes and the beam has two eyes and a cam cleat that I thread a line through and cleat to keep the mast on the ball. There is no retaining pin like hobies and prindles. I think I like the lashing better, anyway. So my pole is lashed along with the mast base. I designed the pole's foot to have that aluminum tube through the extrusion so that the lashing holds the pole up against the mast.
It works well.
If you can lift the mast alone, then you can keep things very simple. Just mount a block to your trailer’s mast stand. Tie an extension line onto your main halyard or trapeze wires. Run the line through the block and back to one of the jib cleats. Raise the mast and then pull the slack out of the line and cleat off. This will hold the mast up while you pin the forestay.
If you go this route, make sure the boat is strapped to the trailer (should be anyway when stepping mast) since the boat accidentally moving forward on the trailer would allow the mast to start coming down.
sm
If you go this route, make sure the boat is strapped to the trailer (should be anyway when stepping mast) since the boat accidentally moving forward on the trailer would allow the mast to start coming down.
sm
I have used Steve's method for solo stepping but only for a Hobie 18, so a heavy mast but not as heavy as a Prindle 19 Im sure.
Ive never managed to get a gin pole working but here are some tip/trick/methods that helps a lot no matter which other methods you use.
- Start with the boat securely strapped to the trailer, and the trailer securely connected to the vehicle.
- Park the whole rig pointed as downhill as you can manage. I have solo stepped my H18 much easier when I was able to parked pointed down a step launch ramp, the angle takes a lot of the weight off the mast and if steep enough the mast can just lean forward against gravity until you connect the forestay. (Sketchy if there is wind or ramp traffic)
- Old school, get a second or third person up on the tramp with you to pickup the mast and lever it up. Once up the extra person can get down and connect the forestay.
Hope that helps.
I like 'simple'.... most of the time. But sometimes 'simple' is not up to the task.
I had an H18 with an all-aluminum mast. It was pretty easy to raise that mast all by my lonesome. I'm guessing that a comp tip is lighter still.
Add a few more feet or so of aluminum extrusion and we have ourselves a different affair to deal with. Add some age and a little less moxie than we had before, and other options, perhaps a bit more complex set of options, somehow become more enticing if we want to get out sailing by ourselves, or with a new sailor of much smaller stature.
Yes, a gin pole will work well if it is designed and constructed well, but it is yet another piece of gear to store and maintain and ensure safe operation.
I will contend that adding a decently-high gallows (positioned near the hounds) to the equation of powering-up the mast can help provide better mechanical advantage, at least at the beginning of the power-snatch.
I would suggest always having a back-up plan. Like... another able-bodied person to help.