John,
The A-frame bolts to the main chainplates on the deck, so it doesn't
really matter whether the boat's on land or in the water. I put my mast
up at the dock after I launched, but if you have a nice launch area with
no overhead wires, there's no reason you can't step it before you splash.
The height of the A-frame is mostly dictated by the balance point of the
mast. Ideally, you want to lift the mast right at the balance point so
that as you raise it, swinging the base into position is pretty easy.
If the A-frame isn't tall enough, you'll swing the base down into
position, and it'll contact the deck before you can position it over the
step. That happened to me the first time we raised it. So, we lowered
it back down and had to adjust the lifting point a little lower, meaning
that the mast was slightly top heavy. It was not a big deal, as someone
has to hold onto the base of the mast anyway, and you're not talking
about a large amount of weight. The extra foot would just give a little
extra lifting height over the deck and still let you lift from the exact
center of balance.
With a sturdy enough A-frame and block, I don't see any reason why this
setup couldn't be used on even much bigger boats. The weight of a C27
mast is less than 100 lbs, so even though it feels pretty scary, and you
certainly don't want anyone underneath it while you're lifting it, in
reality it's not that difficult to do.
Lee Scott
/Blown Away/
'87 Catalina 27 #6350
[email protected] wrote:
Hey Lee:
I have not taken a detailed look at your set up for removal and
stepping of mast. Does it assume the boat is sitting at the usual
level above the hard with keel on a rest of minimal thickness - say 1
foot or less? I would assume that your suggestion of making the rig
just a bit higher is in response for the need to not cut things too
fine regarding this.
Cheers,
John
1994-75 SR
Shambhala
-----Original Message-----
From: Smith Crew <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 6:43 pm
Subject: Re: [IC27A] Perryville, MD HELP!
Mike -
I used the A-frame method to take down my rig and Lee is right... it
can get hairy.
A method a boat in fleet 8 used a few years back was to simply utilize
the halyards from two Catalina 27s docked in adjacent slips. The two
outside boats hoisted the mast up attached near the spreaders then
pivoted it into place. Simple, effective and I wish I had thought of
that.
Using two adjacent sailboats is the method I'll be using this spring
instead of the A-frame method.
Just an alternative suggestion.
Bill Smith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Scott" <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2009 11:20:41 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [IC27A] Perryville, MD HELP!
Mike,
Are you covering a round-trip plane ticket? :-)
I stepped mine last year, and I used the instructions here at
http://www.catalina27.org/SN-FTP/mastraising.jpg
It was a little scary at first, but after raising and lowering it
twice to correct criss-crossed halyards, etc., it I got a lot more
confident in the process. The only thing I did different from the
instructions was I used the mainsheet and fiddle blocks from my
Catalina 22 to do the lifting, rather than using just a single block
at the top. That made the lifting easy enough for my wife to do it
while I and a friend swung the base of the mast into place. The only
thing I'd change is I'd make the A-frame about a foot taller than they
say in the instructions. With the fiddle block at the top rather than
a single block, the mast was hard up against it and as high as it
would go before I had enough clearance at the base to place it on a
4x4 wooden block.
Placing it on the 4x4 wooden block lets you connect all the wiring and
test it before you drop it onto the step. Good luck!
Lee Scott
header image
LEE A. SCOTT
Shelby, AL
http://www.oldjags.com <http://www.oldjags.com/>
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
<mailto:[email protected]>
Mike wrote:
Hello, Group! I'm looking for somebody in the Perryville, MD area
who can lend me some dockside advice. I've got a C27 I need some
experienced help with, mostly in getting the mast stepped. I'm not
looking for somebody to it FOR ME, just somebody to help ME DO IT.
If you're in the area please drop me an email, I'm covering gas
and buying drinks. I'm stuck between a rock and hard spot, your
assistance is apprecitated!!!
Mike
[email protected] <mailto:mccombsm%40cox.net>
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