MacGregorSailors.com

Anyone ever try to lift their mast the way Jeff does on is video. I don't get it, either he is superman or he has a feather light mast. I have had my 2001 X since 2007. The first year I just had the assistance of my wife and we almost killed ourselves. Every summer since, I have needed the assistance of two people, and we are not weak guys, and the mast raising pulley. My mast is very heavy. I bought the boat used. Did they sell a different mast that was much heavier than the standard one that comes with the boat. That video of him lifting it by himself is very dangerous if, like ourselves, you don't know the mast can be different.

It that magician magic. Hidden wires .

psych54 wrote:Anyone ever try to lift their mast the way Jeff does on is video. I don't get it, either he is superman or he has a feather light mast. I have had my 2001 X since 2007. The first year I just had the assistance of my wife and we almost killed ourselves. Every summer since, I have needed the assistance of two people, and we are not weak guys, and the mast raising pulley. My mast is very heavy. I bought the boat used. Did they sell a different mast that was much heavier than the standard one that comes with the boat. That video of him lifting it by himself is very dangerous if, like ourselves, you don't know the mast can be different.

I had a lot of trouble raising the mast by myself until I converted my raising system to an M style. I copied Erik's mod http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=409, except that I attatched the winch to the mast raising pole using U bolts which is a little easier.

-Randy

I have not seen the Jeff video. I raise my mast, singlehanded, with the mast raising kit - no problem. My mast is original 2001 mast and I am able to shoulder the mast, sans roller furler, and walk the mast off the back of the boat while on the trailer. Twice I have walked the mast up & down on my own, and sometimes the wife helps, but mostly I just use the mast-raising-kit. It's a breeze!

ROAD Soldier is correct - - - except no wires - - - it's MAGIC

Rick

I lift my mast single handed like Jeff with no MRS or Mrs.

Jim can attest I am no weight lifter. Not sure what the issue is?

I have never considered the mast on my '02 X to be very heavy, but it is awkward lowering it by hand. I have raised and lowered it by myself, w/o a mast raising kit, for the past 6 years. Most of the time my wife is along and she pins the forestay. On those rare occasions she isn't along, I use my home-made mast raising kit if there is no one available to pin it. I'm 71, short and rotund.

Catigale wrote:I lift my mast single handed like Jeff with no MRS or Mrs.

Jim can attest I am no weight lifter. Not sure what the issue is?

My good friend Stephen...muscular strength is not everything...you have mental strength that puts me to shame...

Cheers,
Jim

I masthead rigged our V-25 which necessitated a heavier mast extrusion. See pic on Sailboatowners.com. The Standard extrusion is a Sparcraft S-104, 28 ft. Went to S-106 in order to fly MH spinnaker, 525 sq ft and masthead jib and 150% genny. Two people, my wife and I, standing on the cabin top on each side of the mast had no trouble rasing it. Third person pulling jib halyard was a plus. We've never had Gin pole, saw no need. Not sure what the X is rigged with but it looks like and S-104?? Fair Winds and Full Sails....

Used to raise the 26D mast alone with no raising kit. Cabin top on the X is higher and different fore/aft so I could not walk up the mast from cockpit to cabin top.
Stock Mac X mast raising kit makes it easy, tho slow ivo the extra time spent rigging/unrigging the kit. The only way to go IMHO.
Ron

c130king wrote:

Catigale wrote:I lift my mast single handed like Jeff with no MRS or Mrs.

Jim can attest I am no weight lifter. Not sure what the issue is?

My good friend Stephen...muscular strength is not everything...you have mental strength that puts me to shame...

Cheers,
Jim

No brain, no pain . Sorry that was such a nice lead in I couldn't resist.