Manual Mast Raising

[opie]

I realize that manually raising the mast is not possible for everyone, and you must be strong enough and without back issues, but I am 70 yrs old and have been raising the mast this way for 10 yrs. I tried the mechanical method MRS twice and while it worked ok, I find it quicker and less hassle to just muscle it up. (Disclaimer - mast can slip, back can slip, don't blame me if you fail.)
Notes: If any wind, move or anchor boat so wind is at stern.
Try without furler on for best results.
Run line from mast top to pulpit to mast cleat to secure mast once up.
Once up, tighten line to make mast more forward so you can pin it at front after cleating line on mast.
After pinning forestay, release line.
Backstay on X models must be in place before beginning.
There is chance some stay or line may snag on way up. If so, lower into crutch and un-snag.
The exercise starts out as a dead lift of about 125 lbs, then becomes a curl at 75 lbs then becomes a press at about 60 lbs.

I have two old videos on youtube under 26X mast topic.

[dlandersson]

Nice. I confess I used to "muscle" it up, but the last few years I've been using the "X" MRS.

[Starscream]

I use the muscle method too...it's that first dead-lift that is the hard part. Must position the feet and back properly.

I'm curious why you say the backstay should be installed on the X: that's the worst culprit for snagging on the way up and the sidestays do a fine job of preventing the mast from going too far forward.

The other two most common snag points for me are the sidestays on the trailer goalposts (I have two uprights on each side with a 2x8 running between them as a guide) and the halyard or topping lift on the mast support pole coming out of the pedestal.

I installed a second rope forestay, and I use it when raising the mast single handed. Once the mast is up, you need some way to prevent it from falling back down as you move from the mast step to the foredeck. I loop the backup forestay through the mast-carrying bolt on the pulpit and run it back to where I can pick it up at the mast base, and use it to hold the mast up as I make my way forward to attach the furler pin.

One of the best mods I did was to add a turnbuckle to the rope forestay. I can just crank down the turnbuckle until the furler pin lines up properly, slide in the pin and ringding, and then relax the turnbuckle to put the load on the steel forestay inside the furler. With this system, I can raise and lower the mast alone without the MRS.

I have to admit, though, that first deadlift is a nasty one and I was toying with the idea of installing the MRS, which is sitting unused since new in a box in my shed. And, as Opie the OP hinted, don't do this with a crosswind.

[Tomfoolery]

At 40 lb [88 kg] for just the naked extrusion (47 lb [103 kg] for the extrusion), not counting stuff at the top, spreader bracket and spreaders, stays, halyards, and the forestay with furler and furled sail, I think I'll stick with the MRS and baby stays. I'm just not as strong as I used to be.

I can also stop anywhere along the trip up or down and untangle whatever gets tangled, and something always seems to get tangled. Even if it's something simple like forgetting to uncleat the furler line and take out the stopper know before lowering the mast.

And I've modified mine to have 5 parts of line, on large (relatively) ball bearing bullet blocks which I had laying around. I can raise it from the crutch with one hand if I'm feeling strong that day.