Homemade gin pole-mast raising and lowering system.

[@charleswaters455]

I was stuck with my design until I saw your 'slipper'. Perfect. Now, to find a way to stead the mast from side to side while raising so that a single person could raise it. My kids aren't always trustworthy!

[@boatedout]

@@charleswaters455 cool, let me know how you get on. The side supports were just too much for me. The connecting points need to be the same height as the mast step. I did wonder about a take up line that continuously tensioned the stays as the mast was lowered. Almost like one hand to lower the mast, 1 hand to keep tension on the stays. That’s as far as I got.😁⛵️

[@patreilly4293]

Great video! I have a 23 foot trailer sailer here in Florida; a 1993 Compac 23/3. My wife’s name is Elise and she’s still annoyed that I didn’t name the boat after her!

[@boatedout]

I just watched a cool vid of a compac 23, looks like great boats! How could you not name it after her! Such a beautiful name!😁⛵️⛵️

[@skonandr]

Man you are a genius ! I will make the same system

[@boatedout]

Thanks!!!😁I would put a sheave at the top of the pole and have the winch facing the other way. Otherwise it works great. 👍😁⛵️

[@wiltonsmith3397]

I like your safe and simple solution to mast raising. Thank you!

[@boatedout]

Thank you, you are welcome😁⛵️

[@mrzif0013]

Genius!! I'll give it a try.

[@richardmclaren8549]

Bro very nice. My dad utilised a system similar to this with our first trail able yacht in 1970 except we used the forestay and the spinnaker pole and the actual trailer winch. Dad was 40 and I was 10 but between a man a boy a rope and a winch we could get that old wooden mast up and down in minutes. Do like your system though. 🐟 😁

[@boatedout]

Thanks for your comment! Great to hear about you and your dad doing it all that time ago. I did start off with a spinnaker pole and main sheet but decided I needed to come up with something a little quicker to set up, although there are some tweaks I’m going to make with this system. Reckon I could make it a little quicker!😬😁⛵️

[@diogenes848]

Very neat. Thank you for sharing.

[@boatedout]

Pleasure, thank you for commenting😁⛵️

[@PetervanGinneken]

Elegant system. And it is not cluttering up the foredeck like my a-frame does.

[@boatedout]

Thanks! Couple of mods I’m going to make. Baby stays for the mast would be the next mod for me.

[@PetervanGinneken]

@@boatedout Those would be a great addition. Just find a way to attach them on the axis of the hinge in your mast.

[@Spud63]

@@boatedout did you make those baby stays , i may have to alter design if you have

[@boatedout]

@@Spud63 yes I’ll send you a decent list of stuff, I bought some “sk78” which rope off eBay as easy to Brummell splice, I spliced one end of the stay to the clip and spliced an eye in the top end to cow hitch it on the eye on the pole. I did have to redo the bottom splice to fine tune the length once sized up. One thing to consider is that it might be worth putting a sheeve in the top of the pole and having the winch face forwards to stop it pushing against the mast. I haven’t done this yet but would aid in keeping a bit of space between the pole and mast, however, the current set up is great. I may change it but may not.

[@t4special]

Brilliant, thanks for sharing.

[@boatedout]

You are welcome one! Thanks for the comment😁⛵️

[@S.Norman]

Thanks

[@Spud63]

do you have a parts list and dimensions of the pole ie what whinch did you use, best idea ive seen yet whick looks easy

[@boatedout]

Yes I’ll put something together and post them here for you.⛵️

[@surreyarborist]

Will share this with the cruiser section of Desborough sailing club shepperton. All trailer sailors.

[@boatedout]

That would be great thank you! Hopefully it helps some one. 😁⛵️

[@rogergurr9090]

Good system. The only thing I might do is turn left pole around so the winch doesn't come up against the mast.

[@boatedout]

I think that’s a great idea, I’ll try that out. Thanks a lot. ⛵️

[@Howt-ooo]

Good job!

[@boatedout]

Thanks, I’ve since had a few suggestions so I plan to put a sheave in the top and have the winch facing forward, which will help loads. 😁⛵️

[@DavidD6969]

That seems to be working well..I'm looking for a boat like the one next to you looks like a 17 footer ..

[@boatedout]

Hi, yes it works quite well, I think that’s a leisure 17. Can be picked up real cheap if you’re lucky. I know some one selling something similar near me in Suffolk UK

[@DavidD6969]

Yeah I was thinking it was a Leisure 17 I'm in the Philippines it would be a fun boat to have here on the island if it's cheap I will have to see about shipping one here...

[@swsfrancais7289]

Hi again. That was a piece of p*ss - a very elegant solution. These vids of yours are really peaking my interest in the Harrier. However, trying to find one for sale is another matter. They are like rocking horse droppings. It doesn't help when you look up Copeland Boats showing all the "Fox" classes but no mention of the Harrier. I think I'll keep looking for one as I think it might just suit my style of sailing. I know you've started the season but can I please make a request for a vid showing how you lift the keel at the end of the season. Once again, thank for taking the time to film these little gems! Chin-chin Rej

[@boatedout]

Thanks Rej, where are you based? Yes not a lot on the Harrier out there, also they all normally need a lot of work, I know of one coming up for sale soon. A nice one too. And of course you are always welcome to come for a test sail in my Harrier. And yes I will certainly do a video just for you! I raise the keel after every sail normally. Takes about a minute or 2. Stops the barnacles growing on the keel if the boat is left in. Can’t have that extra drag!😁 end of this season I’m going to completely remove the keel and re do the tray that is bolted to the top of it. Common issue on all these lifting keelers. If they didn’t use mild steel inside the fibreglass tray then perhaps they would last a lot longer. That will the major job next year, I try to do 1 major one a year. 😁⛵️

[@swsfrancais7289]

@@boatedout I would be very interested in the one that's coming up for sale. I am currently based in Camaret south of Brest - 90 mins from Roscoff so could view the boat within 2 days of it going on sale. I have a big problem with my swing keel. I need to drop it, wire-wheel the surface, give it 3 coats of phosphoric acid, fill any rust damage & then fibre-glass it. All carried out under the cradle, dealing with 500 kg of unforgiving mild steel. Not looking forward to it. Thanks for the offer on a vid on your keel which is greatly appreciated. Rej

[@johnboswell8146]

Great system! What kind of pole did you use?

[@boatedout]

It’s an aluminium pole approx 40 mm diameter. It’s quite a heavy duty pole actually. Possibly 2mm wall thickness. It’s very strong. 😁⛵️

[@TheAegisClaw]

How heavy is the mast? Could you not just muscle it up together?

[@boatedout]

It’s much better with the system when you get a shroud snag up half way up, don’t have to lower it again, also my 8 year old daughter can do the winching which is handy. 😁so the gin pole is really handy- it takes a bit of pressure off.

[@JohnBaileyDarke]

Would have watched the entire video but I would suggest you find a way to muffle the wind sound when you make a video. Don't be lazy...

[@boatedout]

@@JohnBaileyDarke totally agree, I’ve since improved my audio. It’s all a learning curve. 👌⛵️