My mast doesn't slide easily along the curved mast crutch's roller and scratches if someone doesn't help it along when I move the mast back and forth for raising and lowering it. Anyone remedy this problem?
Speedy rigger just slides the mast along by himself when he is on the bow but he has a newer model crutch. My roller moves easily and it seems aligned. The curve seems like a weak design.
I wonder if it is a little bent.
The crutch on the newer models also provide a good boom crutch when rigging. It seems to eliminate the need to use the topping lift to support the boom at this stage.
My 97'X has the straight crutch and I have the same problems you have Mark. Some day I'm afraid I'm going to snap the darn thing off...
I have a teenager to help me...
I find most of the time it takes a second person to really keep things aligned right so the mast will roll smoothly in my old ('96) transom mounted carrier.
I was able to help the situation by adding a support on the port side. I just used a piece of 1" emt with rubber ends cut to the correct length to prop up the carrier. One end rests just under the 'U' shaped part of the carrier and the other sits on the port cockpit seat. A couple tangs and a bolt keep the end at the top attached to the carrier. This creates a triangle that is much better for supporting the mast when trailering. It get's rid of the bounce the old offset design had. It doesn't completely reduce the rolling problems though as there is still some play front to back and the mast can bind. My wife still tends to the alignment at the roller while I roll the mast.
I'm just finishing up the redo of my web sites mod pictures and will have a shot of this setup there soon.
I had the same problem. I noticed that with the pressure of the mast on the roller it would move side to side and bind on the roller supports on either side.
It only took a few minutes to take it apart, put some bearing grease on the roller axle and add a few washers on each side as spacers. The washers were just big enough to contact the roller hub, but not the rubber surrounding the hub.
It works great now and really trimmed some frustration off the mast raising process.
Hello:
Early boats were shipped with the roller running directly on the bolt. Lots of friction. Take the roller off to make sure. I went to Ace hardware and bought some nylon bushings and washers that fit inside and next to the roller. The mast rolls much easier. However, you will have to stabilize the crutch if it's stern mounted. It tends to twist and bind which ends up cracking the fiberglass at the mount.
My crutch was bent for a while and this made the mast want to roll off a bit to the side. Another trick that is useful is to tightly tie the furler on the top side of the mast before trying to move the mast on the roller. If the weight of the furler is well centered on the mast, it makes a big difference than if that thing starts falling down the spreader...which makes the mast lopsided and wanting to twist off of the roller.
And the final thing which I can think of that is very useful is to lift the bottom of the mast up higher than the crutch roller when going from trailer position to mast stepped position. The gravity effect of the mast sliding down the roller helps a lot. Conversely, when pulling the mast from step to bow pulpit, keep the base as low as possible. Its typically harder pulling it in this direction since there isn't as much slope you can put on the mast.
Speaking of tying rope, you can tie a line from under the carrier to the port winch to stop the carrier from twisting backward and binding when pushing the mast back. I haven't found anything really good to tie to and hold it when rolling forward.
I had the same problem (97)... sliding the mast was a task. I realized the roller would barely move...so I just loosen the bolt that goes through the roller. It makes a big difference...rolls like a dream.
