where to attach mast raising shackle on bow?

[tidalwave]

When I raise and lower the mast on my 28 , I was told to
attach the bow shackle in one of the two holes drilled in the forestay plate.
However, my roller furling reel blocks a straight line from the attachment hole to the mast raising boom. The line has to bend aroung the reel and
forces the reel out of position. It is hard to attach the reel shackle pin when raising the mast and the shackle pin has side tension because of the raising line when lowering the mast.
Can I attach the mast raising line to another attachment point, such as
the mast storage plate on the bow rail? If so, I am worried about putting to much tension on the bow rail rather than on the forestay plate.

[rickjnav]

On my 26M the line that goes from the top end of the mast raising pole to the bow is just a rope with a loop that I place over one of the two mooring line cleats at the bow. Either of these cleats should be secured to the deck well enough for you to use for raising the mast without having to interfere with the forestay.

[NiceAft]

Same here!

I attach the loop to one of the bow cleats.


Ray

[DLT]

I probably should use a cleat, but I just toss the loop over the anchor roller...