Solo Mast Stepping? :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Solo Mast Stepping?

bhull

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Apr 03, 2008

Last visit: May 26, 2013

Posts: 22
Posted: Feb 03, 2009 - 06:12 PM

Last Summer I bought a Hobie 18' and had a lot of trouble finding people to sail with.

This summer I don't want to be stuck on land, so...
Is there a mechanism or trick to stepping a mast solo?

I will most likely be launching from a boat ramp so I don;t mhave to drag it up and down a beach, but I will have to step the mast each time I go out.

What's the best way to do it quickly by yourself?

Thanks!
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Feb 03, 2009 - 11:40 PM

bhullWhat's the best way to do it quickly by yourself?

i owned a h18 and was scared to death about dropping that mast on someones head....

there are basically 2 standard methods to get the mast up solo... (i am sure others have other ways too)

1. purchase (or build your own) an EZ Mast Step system at murrays.com or similar. this is called a gin-pole. they are an amazing pain to adjust and get to work, but once you get it down... works very well. can be installed and used (and removed) in 15-20 minutes... not to bad. also helps on windy days to avoid any sway while stepping,

2 trailer your boat stern to front (rudders closest to car trunk) and use the mast craddle on your trailer to get an angle on the mast to assist lifting... you still need a creative way to secure the forestay while stepping off the tramp to secure it. Plus you risk dropping the mast on your car... but this is how most of us here (Tampa area) do it... it just takes practice and balls :)

I guess you could probably tie a line to your forestay, and run it through your furler ring (above the bridal wires) and use it as a saftey line while stepping to help secure the forestay
Kenginnyd

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Apr 17, 2008

Last visit: Apr 01, 2009

Posts: 12
Posted: Feb 04, 2009 - 01:18 PM

I'm not sure what aspect of stepping the mast you use a second person for. It is a heavy spar and it requires some finese and strength to get it up while dealing with the diamond stays. The mast base connection can be tricky getting the pin in solo but not too difficult.

If you are able to deal with this on your own then the real need for another set of hands is connecting the forestay and bridle wires while you hold the mast in place. You can solve this by hooking your main halyard to the bridle and cleating the other end on the mast. Once the mast is vertical uncleat the halyard from a mast cleat, pull it tight and it becomes your temporary forestay. You can then get off the tramp and connect the forestay.
ghhm43

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Oct 26, 2004

Last visit: Nov 27, 2013

Posts: 66
Posted: Feb 04, 2009 - 09:54 PM

http://www.amazon.com/dp/…lt151795-20&linkCode=asn

A buddy of ours uses one of these electric winches.
He hooks it to his forestay and slowly pulls the mast up
and then connects it.

It actually works pretty slick!!

--
Gordon
Nacra 5.5SL
--
bhull

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Apr 03, 2008

Last visit: May 26, 2013

Posts: 22
Posted: Feb 05, 2009 - 01:27 AM

I guess a better question would be has anyone tried the
"EZ Mast Stepper" from Murry's?

http://www.murrays.com/archive/54.pdf

I rigged up something very similar, but couldn't stop the mast from swinging laterally.

ghhm43: How does your buddy rig up he winch?
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Feb 05, 2009 - 12:24 PM

i had an stepper.. i worked great. as i said.. PITA to initially adjust but worked perfect after.

the ez uses the trap lines to control the swaying. you could tie them to the front beam with some line to achieve the same restraint
ghhm43

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Oct 26, 2004

Last visit: Nov 27, 2013

Posts: 66
Posted: Feb 05, 2009 - 12:26 PM

He sets the winch on the back bumper and hooks it to his truck battery - it winches pretty slow so there is no lateral movement, shrouds and trap wires are already hooked up, once it's up he connects the forestay then removes the winch connection.

--
Gordon
Nacra 5.5SL
--
turbohobo

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 19, 2006

Last visit: Aug 16, 2017

Posts: 613
Posted: Feb 07, 2009 - 01:48 PM

Go to Photo Albums at top of this webpage, go to Beachcats Technical and look at Build Your Own Mast-Step Setup for ideas on how to step a mast on any/all Hobies.

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TurboHobo
H14T
H16
P18
G-Cat 5.0
P16
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fourteenfeet

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jan 15, 2009

Last visit: Feb 09, 2009

Posts: 3
Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 02:28 AM

Sailing the 18 solo is not for the faint-hearted.
DamonLinkous

Rank: Administrator

Registered: Jul 19, 2001

Last visit: Oct 31, 2024

Posts: 3445
Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 01:05 PM

fourteenfeetSailing the 18 solo is not for the faint-hearted.

It's more like "Sailing a Hobie 18 solo is not for the light of weight" or the "small of experience".

And "large of experience" can overcome "light of weight", but "heavy of weight" shouldn't be substituted for "small of experience".

Get it?

I've probably sailed my H18 more solo than alone, but I am well over 200 pounds. I have a friend (Paul) that is well under 160 and regularly sails his H18 solo on the Gulf Coast, but he's one of the most experienced cat sailors around.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Deepsees

Rank: Mate

Registered: Mar 02, 2003

Last visit: Jun 09, 2010

Posts: 119
Posted: Feb 11, 2009 - 01:29 PM

Well said Damon.

To save my back for future use, I am designing my own mast stepping frame somewhat like is shown in the technical form photos. I find it more hazardous bringing the mast down on my G-Cat 5.7, as it suddenly reaches that point of feeling it's weight.

Instead of welding a tube stump to place a longer tube on, I will just extend the winch tube with a drop on tube to raise the angle of pull.

I figure it will take a 26" tube with a roller at the top for my trailer. I have the good fortune of having access to ship yard materials. Plenty of scrap laying around... and they have welding machines !
yellowhulls17

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 27, 2008

Last visit: Jul 25, 2010

Posts: 126
Posted: Feb 12, 2009 - 09:10 PM

QuoteIt's more like "Sailing a Hobie 18 solo is not for the light of weight" or the "small of experience".

And "large of experience" can overcome "light of weight", but "heavy of weight" shouldn't be substituted for "small of experience".

Get it?

I've probably sailed my H18 more solo than alone, but I am well over 200 pounds. I have a friend (Paul) that is well under 160 and regularly sails his H18 solo on the Gulf Coast, but he's one of the most experienced cat sailors around.

Agree with everything here, me being a newer H18 sailor (plenty of weight, not so much experience with the beast)
But the 18 is an absolute blast out on the wire.
I plan on using an electric winch to raise the mast on my 18. I am usuallly the only one sailing, or if others are around they have the catamaran racism beliefs and not entirely willing to help