Easy sailboat mast raising for an O'day 23'.

I made a simple and effective gin pole for raising the mast on my 23' O'day Sailboat. It is simple and quick, and a solo sailor can put it up in about 10 minutes.

[@Kristian_Saile]

This is great. We just moved up from a Catalina 22 and my wife and I were always able to just lift and stand the mast by hand but this O’Day 23 mast looks quite a bit more substantial. I am going to copy this idea in the spring. Thanks!

[@huntsail3727]

Nice rig, thanks for posting.

[@garygagnon]

Thanks for the video. I just sold my O'Day 20 and bought a 23 and I have been staring at the mast wondering how I was going to raise it solo. You have put me on the right track.

[@CandJSailing]

This design worked perfectly! Thanks!!! You are absolutely correct about the snug fit of the tabernacle.

[@billydhodges]

Excellent job bud! I love to see a unique design and thought going into a process and you certainly show both of those in this video.

[@113MPG]

I watched a lot of videos on Jin poles and this seems to be the one that I will use on my Oday 222. I have a mainsheet from a 30 foot yacht I will use. A bit overkill but will make it easier for my wife to lower the mast while I set it in the crutch aft. Thanks

[@JoeyBowie]

Excellent! I like your Gin Pole set up. It's very similar to the first one that I made out of wood. The one I'm using now is made of 1" stainless steel pipe with a wood yoke that fits on the mast. It's great to be able to be self sufficient and not having to depend on anyone's help when it comes to mast raising/lowering. Great work! Smooth Sailing! Joe "The old fuzzy faced Captain of the Trinkka"

[@TubeScience]

I do like this, but one of the trickiest parts is getting that "tabernacle" piece in place to start. It's a major part of stepping the mast and no small affair! I do feel your pain.

[@dleewoods]

I've been turning it over and over in my head for a couple weeks before finding your video. I like some of your ideas, especially using the old bow roller. Hadn't even considered a gin pole but you make it look very easy from the cockpit.

[@timsouza7903]

Thanks, Rick! I have a 28 foot Southern Cross, and I am looking for best practices for everything. This is a really great addition to my library.😊

[@aquilifergroup]

Thank you brother. This gives me ideas for my boat. Good job.

[@professorfarley]

Hey, thanks so much for this. I've found other "advice" out there, but this is the best and most informative set of instructions I've seen. Thanks for being so clear and complete. I have a little O'Day 17 (1962 DaySailer), but I am getting too old to horse that mast up myself on solo-sailing days. Your design should work really well. I don't have a winch -- no winches on the DaySailer! -- but I don't think I'll need the mechanical advantage. Fair winds! And GO NAVY!

[@kayrate]

I made one for my O'Day 25 and it worked great!!!!!

[@sterlingbrown8036]

Thanks. Your roller is braced on the stern rail. O'Day had a system on its 25, using the boom as a gin pole, tilting the mast forward. On either side, a stabilizing harness was attached to the stays.

[@greenmanlove1]

love the comment about kids swing set. I know the feeling

[@robertgates7322]

Cleverness is in evidence, but so is risk. I have no video of my ginpole to share, but can tell you that it is also made from a 2x4, w/ a small trailer winch attached, and the base of the pole attaches to the hinged mast step somewhat as in your video. The big difference is that I am winching while standing on the foredeck, so that if any line parts or a spar breaks, I am not at risk of being clobbered by the falling mast as you are when you are winching from the cockpit. As others have remarked here, the yoke at the base of your pole can twist and break under sideforces if the mast begins to tilt off to one side. My solution was to make rigid "babystays" of aluminum tubing; these clip to the chainplates at their bottom ends and to the spinnaker slide at their top ends. As the mast is pulled up or is lowered, the slide moves along its track to accommodate the changing geometry of the whole rig. I, too, used a bow roller on the aft mast crutch to facilitate rolling the mast fore and aft while it is horizontal. My aft mast crutch, made of galvanized cyclone fence tubing, telescopes from the trailering (mast horizontal) position to an elevated position to hold the formerly "crutched" area of the mast about 7 feet above the cockpit floor, thus tilting the mast partially upright, ready to be winched the rest of the way to being vertical. Keep thinking, keep tinkering, but PLEASE change your system so that you are not at risk from "falling timber".

[@kalyanawolf]

Good one! I used a very similar helper pole to raise and hold the rafters while building our house, didn't need the tackle for that of course.

[@TheSuperposed]

Used this system yesterday on my O'day 23. Boat on trailer. 14mph crosswind. Mast did not deviate from centerline. Worked perfect. Stepped the mast going aft. (Started with mast lying on bow pulpit. Will go opposite this fall. This technique is probably best done while on the trailer since there is no bracing to beam. Thanks for the idea.

[@nathanbenton2051]

literally the solution to my problem. thanks cheers. lived in hershey for a while small world

[@MrRandyk2]

Thank you for posting! I was not aware that you could attach both the lower and the upper shrouds while raising the mast. They also look quite tight (not sure if this is good.) I was concerned about the 2x6 (I think this is what you used) sleeved into the mast. It looks like this could split along the grain. Perhaps a 3/4 inch plywood over this would strengthen and prevent possible failure.

[@lghgethoscrypto1538]

very good advices, thanks !

[@GulfCoastTim]

Nice effective setup, I have an O'day 22 and I think that will work just as well for me. I don't trailer my boat, it stays in a marina but this can still be useful for the times I want to lower my mast and do some work.

[@GregGray]

Brilliant. You are an engineering ninja.

[@troyreynolds4520]

Got to make one for my S 2 - 22. Love the mockingbirds in the background.

[@MarkTarquini]

Well done! Looking to set up something like this for my Venture 22.

[@imyourhuckleberry357]

Thanks for the video...I will be making one of your set ups for my O'day 240...

[@blueelectricfusion]

ok your awsome for posting this! saving me lots of hassle

[@temtagesson]

Great video! Thanks

[@tubeguy8888]

good post, easy to see how you set up.

[@mjn-ts4uz]

Beautiful!

[@rs8684]

"Give me me a place to stand and a fulcrum and i can move the world. " Archimedes

[@jasonkendrick505]

Thank you for sharing! +1 inspired

[@rs8684]

Yes, that is a real pain. I also like the fact that you can do it all by yourself, no help needed from others...

[@rs8684]

That's an awesome boat, I wanted to get a 240, but I didn't have enough money!

[@ewokOfNZ]

I especially like your "other" invention to move the back roller. I find on my Tasman 20 when the mast is right back and you need to hold it or it over balances.

[@mikeoconner1356]

Brilliant!

[@tonybee5009]

i just attached a cab lift jack between the mast and the deck.....a couple of pumps and the mast was up.......and another couple of pumps and it went down...easy ,cheap and reliable.

[@K9BRONKO]

great video

[@will5286]

Hey man-very nice video-I use very similar rig but with a winch on the 2X pole-I think yours is better--working it from the cockpit-Cheers

[@SVHideAwaySailingHideAway]

Clever idea and simple too! Have you tried a 4 part tackle? It would make the start easier. We seldom drop the mast on HideAway, a Com Pac 23, but it's something we need to learn how to do. Good video - Thanks for posting M

[@dngoodchild]

Nice arrangement. I would reinforce the sides of the bracket of the gin pole with some aluminumum or steeel strapping. There is a lot of tension on that part of the assembly and it might come apart at just the wrong moment with just the 2-by.

[@rs8684]

@Sean t: more importantly than the wind, make sure your boat is LEVEL!

[@rafcaste]

Great video! How do you get the pole to stay on the tabernacle? When you start pulling the halyard, what stops it from leaning forward and leaving the mast behind? Is it downward force on the pole? Thanks

[@proto57]

Hi Rick: I hope I don't sound like a troll here, but I think there is a point not being addressed in your system. Yes it is true that your home made (gin?) pole is secure to the bottom of the mast, and IT cannot twist off to the side. But that is only part of the reason other systems have side bracing on the mast (rods, lines, etc.). The main reason, the most important reason, is to keep the MAST from tipping, during that critical stage before the side stays will keep it from moving too far. So in your system, without such further bracing, the mast can go a bit port or starboard enough to bend or break your tabernacle, or cause other harm. On a calm day, on land, one will get away with using your device... but without side bracing at the beginning of the lift, the system is vulnerable to disaster.

[@efrimmayer-aschhoff6]

Great system. I am nervous about the 2x12 you used around the tabernacle. The piece looks like it could easily split. I think plywood would make a stronger piece

[@CandJSailing]

If it fits nice and snug it will be fine.

[@atreyuprincipalh4043]

thank You!!nic system great post"

[@SailingInconceivable]

Awesome! How high is the rig on your boat?

[@ynotsail]

nice job

[@wkw4095]

I bought an O'day 22 and did a test run mast raising on my front lawn with my daughter on a windy day. If I had to guess the mast is under 60lbs...and felt easy until that awkward moment when gravity adds an extra 60lbs.(worked out ok even missing a clevis pin and using a nail as a temp replacement ) I would love to learn how to do it alone because my kids will be off to college and I don't want to put my 5'1" wife through the challenge. This looks good but a bit scarey if the wind picks up :)

[@rgregory2519]

Do you happen to know where you can get new gaskets for the Portlights on the O'day 23?

[@Darfur64]

The halyard makes a good safety line in case the shackle or extrusion for the furler lets go.

[@admiralgenius1262]

actually the mast on a oday 23 is so light you dont need any kind of gin pole. just stand on the cabin roof behind the tabernacle and heave the thing up. then go forward and attatch the fore stay. I did like that by myself for years on my 23 footer.

[@jeffreyhanshawsr4884]

Amen to that Brother

[@rs8684]

You know, I considered adding some flat corner braces, the kind that you would get at a hardware store. But, how would you attach them? By drilling holes and and adding bolts. Don't know if I wanted to drill through the wood, probably 4 holes for each corner, maybe more...

[@nathaniellafrance7988]

Hey great Video ! i'm a little late to the party but i'm about to buy a grampian 26 and the nearest crane is 50nm from where it is. Do you know any limitation about your setup or could it be scaled up ?

[@samus8684]

nice video, dad.

[@Dj-tf7od]

Had this same set up on my old t20 only thing different is I made where the mast rolls on at back telescopic so I could have the weight of the mast better positioned requiring alot less effort and time to get out of the danger zone as I like to call it.

[@MrRandyk2]

Great Video Ricky, thank you for sharing. It is still difficult for me to comprehend how the base remains “fixed or in place” at the base of the mast.

[@MrRandyk2]

I knew that I had watched this a long time ago, but did not remember commenting before. I did build a similar system for my O’Day Mariner, but I fixed the gin-pole to the mast by drilling a 2x6 with a holesaw bit that matched the shape of the mast, then cutting the board across this hole. I attached two flat bars to the main gin pole, and the aft portion was removable-clamped on when in position-hope that makes sense... So, that is the reason I wonder-how does your stay in place??

[@johncartelli]

i have a oday 26 that i bought in the middle of winter (im in mass.) so i havent gotten to raise the mast yet. i dont see how the mast still cant fall sideways and damage that hinge plate with the wood still attached. looks to me like the wood would fall with the mast tearing the plate out of the deck if the mast decided to go sideways at an almost raised position.( hence why a lot of systems have loosened side stays to prevent that)your system is relying on the base to stay bolted to the deck to keep the mast from going sideways. theres a tremendous amount of leverage that that mast can force on the deck mount . so much so it could pull it right off. for safetys sake I suggest attach your sidestays and loosen them enough to allow the mast to swing full upright while still not letting it go to one side or the other.

[@svguenevere]

John, Greg Delezynski here, can't seem to find a way to reply to your question about our bilge pump.

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

You didn't show how the gin pole fixed to the mast, what stops it sliding up the mast halfway into the process? Also no stays to stop the mast slewing sideways?

[@brynew13]

@jonathansimmonds5784 did you ever figure out the answer? I’m assuming that the forestay takes most if not all of the pulling tension so like he said the “key” is that it is unable to wobble.

[@heinzrobens1840]

Top gutes Beispiel

[@adanobrown8877]

I tried this today but failed. I broke the base of the mast where it attaches to the step. If the fork end of the gin pole is not snug against the tabernacle (or base plate) the mast will swing all over the place and something will break. Back to the workshop to correctly. rebuild this assembly..

[@666zerowolf]

constructed a second "mast" to raise the true mast....lift the world with a long enough fulcrum.

[@charlesarnsbarger240]

Mast raiesing/lowering

[@hook86]

This seems like a great way to damage a tabernacle. They aren't ther strong. The mast gets its strength from the shrouds, forestay and mainstays

[@jolllyroger1]

This is dangerous this way. ?.. You absolutely need bracing to the sides. ?... Your wood around the pulpit grain can be popped with very little pressure.... You should make that of metal at least and still need side support ropes is so easy why does everyone make such heavy clumsy stuff Also the mast leaning to the side will apply enough pressure/leverage to tear the pulpit right out of the boat