Problems lowering mast on 26M

[The Mutt]

Baby Stays, they help big time when using a basic ramp that has no level approaches (or concrete ramp) so that the boat is not sitting level, generally speaking the only way to point the boat uphill is to block the ramp, baby stays keep everything from going pear shaped.

Glenn

[Jim Bunnell]

I'm assuming that "baby stays" are the wires that run from the mast lowering winch to the stanchions. I have them but they don't make a lot of difference. I don't think using bungees to lessen the mast swing will help, there is too much momentum when it starts to move.

If this isn't a mis-statement, I think you're using the baby stays incorrectly - or you raising system is different from mine. My baby stays (line, not wire) go from the stanchion bases to the mast; in my case, to the hound where the line from the gin pole attaches. The idea is to triangulate and stabilize the mast, not the gin pole. the stanchion locations are in line with the mast base, so even when lowering, the tension on either side of the mast remains constant. There is a moderate amount of side to side sway, but nothing severe.

[Highlander]

OK

Here we go this pic shows where the baby stays go on the gin pole at the end underneath these are extra baby stays that I added to support the gin pole not the mast . my mast raising system came with SS wire baby stays to support the mast
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010002.jpg

Here is the SS snaps from Crappie Tire around $4
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0003-1.jpg

Gin pole baby stays wrapped around mast & furlers for storage
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0004-1.jpg

They attach to the stanchions at the same point as the baby stays for the gin pole mast raising system you can see the SS wire baby stays for the gin pole here but they attach to the mast about 7ft up from the mast base
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0005-1.jpg

Hope this helps it really stabilizes the gin pole and keeps the gin pole from bending way over as the SS brkts on the base of them are not very strong and it gives the gin pole alot more support

J

[Jim Bunnell]

Highlander - it sounds like you have two sets of baby stays, one for the mast and one for the gin pole - I hadn't heard of that before, but I can see where it wold help stabilize the gin pole as well as the mast. I read Dave's post to mean he had one set of baby stays, which he attached to the gin pole. I don't think that set-up would help stabilize the mast when lowering. Unfortunately, Tanstaafl is packed away for the winter, so I can't get any photos.

[c130king]

Not sure if this will help...or further muddy the waters.



You can see the baby stays...they are SS wire with small shackles at each end. If you look closely at this photo the shackles are connected to a bowline loop which itself is shackled to the hound on the mast. Thus the baby stays are not connected directly to the mast (or the hound)...but they are connected close to the mast. I never disconnect these two shackles...they stay attached to the bowline loop on the end of the mast raising line all the time...even when the mast raising pole is stored in the truck.

And the other end of the baby stays are connected to the metal loop on the stanchions as in Highlander's last photo. When I set up the mast raising system I shackle the end of thick mast raising line (with the two baby stays already shackled inside the loop) to the hound on the mast. Then I shackle the end of each baby stay to the loop on the stanchion. Then start cranking.

I have never had a problem with the system raising or lowering the mast. But I have always been fairly level and I don't remember ever doing this in a stiff cross breeze. When the mast comes down I let the furler rest on my shoulder. I have never tried to "secure" the furler...but I think I will give it a try next time to see if that makes things any easier (not that they are difficult now).

Hope this helps somehow.

Good Luck,
Jim

[djbroughton]

Yup, my baby stays are connected the same way as in c130king's picture. I am surprised to see the boom is left on during lowering. Any problems with the boom binding when the mast is lowered?

Dave

[c130king]

I am surprised to see the boom is left on during lowering. Any problems with the boom binding when the mast is lowered?

Dave,

When I first got the boat this was the way the PO showed me how to do it. I trailered the boat from his house near Tampa to my folks house in Jacksonville, FL (250+ miles) with the boom still attached. And due to the halyards and reefing lines still being attached I could only get the base of the mast about halfway to the bow pulpit...thus the mast stuck out an extra 8-9' or so out the back. But it worked.

I did this for the first month or so as I had to keep the boat in mast down storage. Then I went to mast up until I moved and at that time...and ever since...I remove the boom.

But it wasn't really a problem. Nothing bent or broke. No binding that I noticed. Seemed to work just fine...and still does. But the mast probably wasn't as secure as it could/should have been since it was not "bolted" into the pulpit, but just strapped to the deck.

I have other pics of the mast down and the boom attached if you or anyone wants to see them.

Cheers,
Jim

[djbroughton]

I could only get the base of the mast about halfway to the bow pulpit...thus the mast stuck out an extra 8-9' or so out the back. But it worked.

Cheers,
Jim[/quote]

Thanks Jim, I don't think I would want to travel very far with the mast sticking out the back but it would be nice if we could simply lower the mast without moving everything forward. But then that would be asking too much... kind of like wishing the Flames would win the Cup this year!

Dave- Calgary

[c130king]

Actually I think it was more like 6' beyond "normal"



Jim