Mast up

After a poor weekend for putting masts up (don't mind rain, but it was windy) I took a crafty afternoon off yesterday to put the mast up with Rod the Mod - erstwhile skipper of Ami-Ly [clicky]. It turned out to be a perfect afternoon, wall to wall sunshine, and a slight breeze...

So..  in order....

Undid all the mast fastenings and free'd everything up, made sure the halyards all ran clean, and then undid the fastenings holding the mast to the crutch and the pulpit. One foot at a time we then moved the mast back, so we could attach the foot to the tabernacle - two holes at the mast foot, used the top one as the pivot point. Left the upper part of the mast in the crutch...

Next the A-frame was then deployed - I have no mid-ship cleats (#oneforthejoblist 😏) so I used the forward chain plates as the anchoring point for the base of the frame as they were nearest in line with the mast tabernacle...

Next, using the jib halyard as the lifting line - I attached it to the apex of the  A-frame (upper edge) - I used the main sheet as the lifting tackle (it's 4:1 so loads of grunt) one end also goes to the apex of the A-frame (under side) the other end (the pulling end) to the stem fitting. I use a fixing point on the stem fitting just behind the point where the forestay attaches, so that the tackle doesn't get in the way of attaching the forestay..  A frame was tensioned so that it angled about a foot from vertical towards the top of the mast... (if you're interested this will give you the idea [clicky])

Then we attached the cap shrouds and rear lower* shrouds

At this point another mate (Dave) turned up, which turned out to be most useful as he had his dinghy with him which allowed him to move round the boat attaching clevis pins and adjusting shroud tension as required, but without having to get on the boat - cheers Dave!

So all in place - roller furling/forestay on my shoulder ready to pass forward as the mast raised, I sat on the foredeck facing forward I took up the strain on the main halyard as Rod in the cockpit started to lift the mast and away she went - short halt half way to free up the cap shrouds that had caught under the pins for the aft lowers, and also to detach the forward lowers*..

Once the mast was up, Dave attached forestay to stem fitting, and Rod and I struggled to get the bottom pin into the mast foot - it was half a cm out until in the end we came up with the ploy of using my biggest screwdriver as a lever to just lift the mast slightly - just slipped it under the mast and used a scrap piece of ply to protect the deck and act as fulcrum which raised it enough to slip the bolt in. Thinking on it - I think the existing bolts are under sized, so the upper one is not holding the mast as snugly as it should - I'll get bigger ones for next time (#anotheroneforthejoblist 😁)

Once the mast was secure we attached the forward lowers, Rod attached the back stay, we all tightened everything up, and job done. Guess it took about an hour end to end but we weren't exactly rushing...

Retired to the cockpit for post-prandial snifters...  thanks Badger! (Errr... all free samples gratefully received...😘)

They have the look of people who have earned a pint - I'd agree! Dave left, Rod right, me behind the beer in fore ground...

... bit of chat ensued and we reckon we've known each other for 25 odd years now.. proof below...

This was 1989 at a regatta at Calshot Activity Centre..   Dave second from right, me on the end far left, not sure where Rod was!

I took up windsurfing in about 1986 I think, I believe this is Dave in 1984 sailing his wooden Orbit at I think Grafham or Rutland Water.. I remember that board fondly as Dave kept it way after he'd started buying more modern kit... it was like a piece of Chipendale it was so highly polished...!

....chat completed, tide going - it was time to head for home, or in mine and Rod's case The Ship for another pint and a pork pie.

Last of all - the proof in the pudding - apologies for the quality - forgot to take one when I was in the dinghy so this was on the way home...

I'll fit the boom and sails on Saturday hopefully, which leaves Sunday/Monday for first sail - can't wait...

* Bit of a lesson learned - the forward lowers act against the rise of the mast if they are attached - better to leave them off..