Mast fall lessons learned

[c130king]

It definitely takes more time. And I also have modified my life-lines to drop them from the bow and from the stern. But I was always having hanging lines and shrouds get hung up on stancions or on winches or something else. So I remove the spreaders, quick and easy, and then bungy everything (including the spreaders with the shrouds still attached to the ends) to the mast to keep anything from hanging down. I store my boat mast-up during the season so this is not a frequent job for me.

Cheers,
Jim

[Miss_Dallie]

if you have the roller furling jib be certain that the furling line exits towards the bottom, otherwise rotate the furler 180 so it does. If you've got the furling line coming out the top or right side of the furler, you won't be able to furl it from the cockpit.

I wish I had read this before going out on Sunday. I did exactly what you warned me about. I had the furler 180 out and the line was coming out of the right and I couldn't furl the Genoa from the cockpit.

Thanks for being diligent in mentioning this, I appreciate it. This is a lesson I won't forget soon.

Ron

[mastreb]

if you have the roller furling jib be certain that the furling line exits towards the bottom, otherwise rotate the furler 180 so it does. If you've got the furling line coming out the top or right side of the furler, you won't be able to furl it from the cockpit.

I wish I had read this before going out on Sunday. I did exactly what you warned me about. I had the furler 180 out and the line was coming out of the right and I couldn't furl the Genoa from the cockpit.

Thanks for being diligent in mentioning this, I appreciate it. This is a lesson I won't forget soon.

Ron

I unfortunately read a lot of things on this site, but don't _understand_ them until I do it. Wish my brain worked a little better in that respect.

[technicalman]

Never trust the mast. It's evil and wants to get you when you least expect it. I always tie a backup to the forward stay. when i'm not using it, i use an extra halyard and atleast tie it to the forward pulpit or cleat. I had a turn buckle break on me once. mast came down hard and fast. luckily, it was in the ocean. only damaged the sail, boom, cabin fitting, gooseneck, and my wits.

[Cato]

what do you mean.. the admiral sits in the cockpit when rigging the boat.

Gentlemen - my First Mate (the missus) she winches the mast as I guide it up.

great exercise for the biceps and she gets a zumba work out on the waist at the same time.

I watch the other blokes in the Marina in Awe of her when we rig/unrig.

so get the admiral up and working with you!


Paul, Karen & Eliza

[technicalman]

Any Admiral who will help winch up the mast is A-OK in my book.

[Trouts Dream]

My Admiral has winched the mast up for me in the past but where she's heads above is launching and retrieving. She takes the empty triler to the parking area and retrieves it when we get back. I've only seen her have to pull ahead once to re-straighten the trailer and she puts it within a foot of the dosk so walking it on is easy. to put this in context, the last time I was out I had to go help another fellow with his lines because his Admiral wouldn't put her rat of a dog down.

So far I haven't felt the need for an extra line of support for the mast but I do lift the roller furler and inspect the connections on a fairly regular basis.