Power Mast raising! YES!!

[Steve K]

Been thinking about this for years............... A power mast raising system .
I've always hated cranking up the mast with the winch, or the main sheet. Worse is just pushing it up there by hand, which I've done many times too. It's always been the worst part of rigging the boat and comes at a time when I'm already tired from driving for miles, then getting everything ready to raise the mast etc.

I never could find the right kind of power winch that wasn't overkill and expensive. One needs a winch that is both power in and power out....... and wireless remote would also be great. Also, light weight would be good.

So now........... there are many great ATV winches on the market with all these features. Saw one at Harbor Freight the other day, for 69 bucks and got one. It's good for pulling 2500 pounds, has wireless remote and only weighs 14 pounds.
(on sale for $49 now, btw)

I own a 26D, but I'm working on a friend's 26X right now. He's pushing 80 years old and needed some things done to his boat to make life easier and require less effort. Well, when I shared my idea with him, he ran down to Harbor freight and got the same winch.

So today, I fabricated a system for his X boat. It is a thing of engineering beauty (I think anyway). It is simple and efficient. It attaches to the trailer winch tree with one bolt and removes for safe stowage. I was worried that it could be stolen, if left on the trailer.
Total weight is now around 20 pounds, but only has to be lifted about waist high to install. Takes about 2 minutes to install.
The system uses the original gin pole setup. The winch cable runs through two pulleys, to the bottom of the pole.

I'll try to get some pictures later, if anyone is interested. Still need to paint the fabricated parts first though

The test run went beautifully I can stand anywhere on the ground, around the boat, or anywhere on deck, to operate the system. Raised and lowered the mast several times and it works very smoothly. I can stop, or start at any point, to clear a fouled shroud or errant rope.
I think the mast was full up in less than a minute. All I used for the test run was a regular garden tractor battery. It was fully charged (however, it is about 3 or 4 years old). After the test, it only took about ten minutes for the battery to be fully charged again........ so not much draw down from the winch.

This is great I don't know why Mac Gregor, or some other trailer boat manufacturer never did this.

I'm going to be 62 in a couple months and I'm looking forward to fabricating the power winch, mast raising system for my own D boat, 'cause I ain't getting any younger. This will go a long way toward my getting to use the boat for years to come.

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[dlandersson]

Charts? Specs? Pictures?

[tp56ihs]

That's awesome! I was thinking the same thing. When it is 90+ at the ramp it is a bit aggrevating to get the mast up. Love to see some pictures.

Resonate

[Steve K]

Guess I'll need to find my camera and charge up the batteries............... Stay tuned
SK

[Russ]

Got all excited by this idea. Then no pictures.

[Steve K]

Oh, btw............
Here is the winch I'm using and I saw a flier somewhere showing it for $49 with a coupon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2500-lb-at ... 61840.html

SK

[Steve K]

Got all excited by this idea. Then no pictures.

Russ, and others,

Okay, okay............. I'll make a point of getting some pics today, and maybe even a video of it in operation
Now where is my camera anyway............................

SK

[Tomfoolery]

Just be careful. That winch can produce umpteen times more force than by hand, and there is no tactile feedback if/when you hook something. Kinked rigging at best, and a broken mast or crew member at worst. Also, have a way to manually shut it down if the relay doesn't let go, like a plug/socket you can pull out. Just sayin'.

[Steve K]

Just be careful. That winch can produce umpteen times more force than by hand, and there is no tactile feedback if/when you hook something. Kinked rigging at best, and a broken mast or crew member at worst. Also, have a way to manually shut it down if the relay doesn't let go, like a plug/socket you can pull out. Just sayin'.

Yes,
Have allowed for most issues.
All machinery has to be operated with proper attention being payed.
An override device (such as a quick disconnect) is a very good idea, but don't know if it would be of much use, if standing on deck, while the winch itself is down on the front of the trailer. Will give this some thought.

I would say, if someone builds and uses a similar system, operate at your own risk and always pay close attention to what is going on. Having been in Damage Control in the USN and later a certified Fork Truck/Equipment safety instructor, I often take for granted that many people don't always have safety on their minds. It's on mine always

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[rick retiree]

Had the same idea several years ago: fabricated the trailer to house that same HF winch powered by small battery or connect to tow car's electric trailer outlet. Never did try it out as winch stopped responding to remote, no warranty so put it aside and got on to next mod. Now it dawns on me: the battery in remote could be dead but now i cant find remote. As they say "My Bad". I wonder if a battery and winch installed in anchor locker in bow , might require fabricating new locker lid,(also might need turning block from eyelet on deck. so mast could be raised and lowered while underway. Do ya think winch would keep the genny roller furling taunt. Would also install a forestay as a backup when not raising or lowering mast. Whatcha think?

[March]

Great mod!
If I were to do it, I would install the electrical winch on the trailer itself, like the man said--not a permanent one, mind you, but a removable one. I would wire it to the trailer plug, so it can draw from the car battery (the engine would be running). I don't have to lower the mast when I am on the water, except, of course, if the sensors on top give me grief. Even in that case, I would return on land to monkey with them. Can't reach the top of the mast in the lowered position, from the water

I would have to extend the halyard that I use to raise the mast, put it around the boat's winch a couple of times, just to be on the safe side, and return it to the electrical winch attached to the trailer. That would not require any extra blocks, and still be based on the existing mast raising system. I would still control it remote, from the cockpit. In case any lines get snagged, I would be able to instantly see to it from the cockpit. And stop.

[Highlander]

my anchor winch has a capstan on the other side from the gypsy , so I can use the capstan for lifting people outa the water , lifting dinghies, equipment etc, pulling the boat to a dock !!
Oh Yes & the mast
J

[Steve K]

Sorry.................
Didn't get any pictures today. Will get some tomorrow for sure.

After painting the fabricated part of the system, I tore into the V-birth and under the anchor locker, to run the hose for the fresh water deck fill I'm installing. The tank will be in the forward storage, under the V-birth.
Needless to say.......... flotation foam everywhere

This is a 1996 X boat, I'm working on. I had a 1997 and the front area is different. On my '97 the foam area around the anchor locker stopped short of the bow. There was a void in the overhead in front of it.

On this '96 the thing goes all the way to the bow and is pointed up forward. This prevents access to the underside of the deck @ the bow, unless one removes the inspection plate on the bottom of the anchor locker (inside the V-berth) and removes all the foam in there. While I have it opened, I'm going to run wire and add a deck plug near the bow for a headlight the owner has. It will reside on the bow pulpit mast fixture, and then be removed and unplugged, when not in use.

Anyway, I digress. See you tomorrow with the pictures
Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[Russ]

Just be careful. That winch can produce umpteen times more force than by hand, and there is no tactile feedback if/when you hook something. Kinked rigging at best, and a broken mast or crew member at worst. Also, have a way to manually shut it down if the relay doesn't let go, like a plug/socket you can pull out. Just sayin'.

Yea, excellent point. With my standard mast raising rig, I've OFTEN caught stuff and had to back off and untangle something or straighten a stay. Having too much power could be disastrous. A 12v relay remote would solve it.

[Steve K]

I got some pics today. I'll try to get video of it in action tomorrow.
Here's the link............

https://app.box.com/s/wwre10uq9pbvf54qakoq

Click the first picture to open. Then you should be able to click through them and/or make them full screen.... zoom etc.

Best Breezes
Steve K.