Stepping the Mast
With the mast laying horizontally from the front of the trailer to
the back of the boat, make sure the two cables (stays) that run from either side
of the mast near its top run to the outward edges of both sides of the boat and
are connected to these little inch square tabs that are bent up with a hole in
them. Take the connector on the end of the stay and connect it to the inch
square tab with a pin and clip. On a larger boat these tabs would be called
chain plates. After connecting the stays which will keep the mast from tipping
side to side, you will have to move the mast from its trailer support towards
the back of the boat (aft). There are two similar looking stainless steel plates 4 inches long to with holes
to attach two 3 inch pins through. These two plates together with the pins that
connect the plates together are called the tabernacle. The two pins secure the
tabernacle plates with the mast in the upright position. Now move the
connection plate on the bottom of the mast to the similar plate that is
connected to a post about three feet long made from the same extrusion as the
mast that goes from the top of the miniature cabin (cuddy) to the floor of the cuddy.
You will secure a 3-inch pin through the rearward hole on the plate on top of
the post and also through the two lower holes on either side of the plate that
is connected to the bottom of the mast. This now forms a hinge for the mast.
Take the line used for hoisting the jib and connect the end of it that is
normally attached to the top of the jib to a three or four foot long
extension. You could use a 4-foot dog leash. A snap end of a dog leash can connect
this extension to the forward most part of the boat. There is a stainless
connector there that has two holes in it. Use the aft most hole. The forward
most hole is used to connect the stainless cable
to the front of the boat that holds up the mast just as the stays that attach
the mast on the to the two sides of the boat. The jib sheet (rope) goes up the
mast to a pulley normally used for raising the jib. Where the sheet comes back
down the mast there will be another pulley that allows the sheet to then run
aft and upwards a bit. Now lift the back end of the mast and pull on
the jib line. The mast weight about 20 pounds. You should be able to get the
mast half way up and then let the jib line do most of the work to get the mast
all the way up. Cleat off the jib line (aka a sheet) and go forward with a pin
and circle clip to secure the stainless steel cable (aka the forestay) that holds
the mast up at the front of the boat. Also put the other 3-inch pin in the
tabernacle. Two side stays that run somewhat aft and the forestay now support
the mast. The mast is secure. Make sure the centerboard is all the way
up. Now back the sailboat trailer into the water, take the sailboat loose from the
trailer and put the rudder on. Somewhere here I am sure you
will have tied the sailboat to a cleat on the dock. It takes me 30 to 45 minutes to get
the mast up and boat in the water. If I have help I just walk the mast
up and have someone clip in the forstay. Forget the jib sheet and extension.
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