Mast raising Kit

[phil kelly]

Hi Everyone, Just a few questions that you may be able to help me with.
I have a year 2000 X with in boom roller furling with a gooseneck fitting rivetted to the mast that sticks out aft about four inches therefore I can't lower the mast less than 45 degrees down before the gooseneck hits the deck and, as you will know, the mast really needs to be much lower before you can unhinge it from the mast step without great difficulty, especially when there's just me and my missus
Cosequently whenever we launch or retrieve we need to use on site raising/lowering facilities which is expensive and limits our choice of sailing water. So I've decided to devise a system which we can operate ourselves
I think I should begin with a Macgregor mast raising kit and continue from there with modifications to whatever ( baby stays are a must )
However, the UK importers tell me that the X kit is no longer available and the M kit is not suitable for an X. Does anyone know wether this is right or not ? I think the M kit could be modified to suit, it can't be that difficult and I really think the ratchet would be easier and safer to use (given that I'm 64 and a bit arthritic!)
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on this,a 'phone number or Email address of the best place to order an X or M mast raising kit would be helpful as I'm very happy to have one imported from the USA.
Thanks Phil, Manchester, UK

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Check out this kit from BWY. It retrofits the M kit to an X

http://bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%20312 ... ng_kit.htm

I'm sure they also would have the parts available if you wanted to go with the X style kit. All it really consists of is the pole, a 4:1 block and tackle without a cam cleat, and the baby stays.

Based on your description I would look to have a Stainless Steel box made that would fit under the mast raising it about 3". It would bolt to the existing step and have the same ears on top for the mast to bolt to. You should be able to account for the extra length needed in all stays with the adjusters or simple extenders. That should allow you to lower the mast all the way down to the rear roller without the non-standard gooseneck hitting the deck.

[Gazmn]

I have an and use the current M mast raising kit with little to no fuss. It comes with a set of baby stays that you may not need, if yours are already in place. The provided instructions show you any adjustments you may need. It's a great improvement over the old one in that you can pause anywhere in the raising or lowering, and go in either direction with no problems. Great for solo and singlehanders

[DaveB]

Gazmn, I also have the M mast raiseing system on my X but the baby stays are to long and need to have them shorten. I have only used it twice and works well, I find for a single hander it's a breeze but I go out with my girlfriend and we just haul it up without the Gin pole.
I did put a adjustable lever at the backstay that slackens the stay 2-3/4 inches to pin headstay and this works great.
Dave

[maddmike]

Phil,

You might consider using a system similar to what I use on Zeno's Arrow. I have a Carbon 32' mast w/ 12' foot boom with double spreaders and oversized standing rigging & almost always have to raise and lower it by myself. Biggest problem besides ground handling the beast was the mast tipping port or starboard enough to bend the footing while going up or down slow with a one man show+ the gooseneck issue. I solved the problem by using two poles (strong sleeved PVC or alum.is ok) attached to the trailer at the wheel fender and placed upright w/ tieoffs near the lifelines for stability; basically my mast raising system is now an intergrated part of the trailer, not the boat. Thus, I position the two poles (one on each side of the boat with a line running through blocks attached to the top between the 20' 'pole's, and slack the line enough to where the mast rests between the poles on top of the line about 3 or 4 ft. off the deck. I then crank up the mast using one wench with the line between the poles getting tighter and raising the mast. This is totallly controllable and I could go to lunch with the mast in any position if I wanted. Once the line it tight at the top I complete the last 10% of the raise with the haylard via a bow block and the other winch (I also use 'bungie shrouds' for port/starboard/centering). When I lower the mast I just relaese the forestay and let it drop onto the tensioned line-done deal; then complete the lowering with the trailer support system. Sorry no pix at the moment as my boat is in the water in Mexico, its not on the trailer and I'm not there at the moment. This way I can also stop the raise/lower at any point and disconnect the boom. Also. I can disconnect the mast foot and easily 'walk' the mast to the bow for attaching for towing without it trying to fall over or having another person hold it off the deck. In my case I have 2 x 20' 2" 2024 alum. poles that are perminately attachec on the trailer and pivot forward and run along the trailer frame when towing, then I pivot them up into position for raising the stick (yes they do bend in a bit under tension-no big deal). Quick n easy, although I do have an alum. two axle trailer which helps.

MM

[bubba]

Mike could you post photos of your mast raising system ? It is hard to visualize.

How many sq ft is your main ? Does your mast rotate ?

[roy martin]

great thread

[maddmike]

Sorry guys no pix right now; boat headed on back to Mexico, trailer back in Arizona, me on the road/working. However, I'll see if I can find my initial design drawings and post them. Basically think of the system when set up as two goal post uprights one on each side of the boat with a line drawn between the tops where the rope can be raised and lowered with the mast sitting on top of the line.

I have 3 Mains currently in use- if I ever get back on the water this year! (1) stock size heavy weight w/ 3 reefing points for heavy weather and plunking around (2) Larger North 3DL 2 side taffeta w/ 3 reefing points for most distancing sailing, (3) 3Di/Cuben hybred 200+ sq. ft. with one reefing point for go fast days. My mast does not rotate.

MM

[phil kelly]

Duane Dunn-Great idea, I'm seriously looking at having a SS box made as you suggest about 3 inches and compensating extra shroud length needed by using bigger " bottle screws " ( I think that's the US term ) Given that it's suggested the M baby stays are longer than the X ones I'll probably go for an M kit to compensate, hopefully they won't need too much alteration.
Thanks for all your suggestions and information guys.
Phil.

[phil kelly]

M mast raising kit on its way from UK distributor Blue Water Yachts didn't reply to my emails

[mike uk]

Thinking laterally (which is after all what you are trying to achieve with your mast ), have you thought of finding a quick release arrangement for the gooseneck. I don't know what it's like but if you are looking at steelwork anyway, then maybe it could be adapted into two parts so that the part sticking out can be removed or hinged out of the way. Or maybe the whole thing could be bolted to the mast instead of rivetted?

Just a thought

Mike

[Highlander]

you could also cut off the bottom say 6" off the mast and buy one of them hinged mast brkts that they use on some cat boats so the 6" bottom mast section becomes a fixed stub , I have thought about doing this say cutting off 24-30" then installing one of these brkt's that would then allow one to make & install a hard top dodger and converting it to a pilot house cockpit cabin I beleive I have seen it done on a 28ft cutter I have it in one of my old sailing mags "somewhere"

J

[puggsy]

What about this for an idea... Instead of hinging the mast at deck level, build and fit a solid aluminium
"tabernacle" with the pivot point anything up to 2 feet above the deck. The mast has the pivot pin go through the side of it at the same distance from its base. As it lowers to the stern, the 'two foot' bit travels FORWARD out of the two upright arms of the tabernacle. when lowered and at deck level, the mast is now two feet higher along its whole length above the deck, giving more clearance.
To maintain the mast rotation, the actual tabernacle could be built to rotate on a single strong bearing.
Will it work? My old Vivacity had a solid tabernacle with the pivot point down low. When lowered, the mast was always at about 15 degrees. To get it lower and more level for transport, I had it modified by raising the two side arms and making another pivot point [ higher]. It works fine..but in this case, no rotation.




Note the different angles of the mast.

Puggsy