Sailboat Mast Raising System

A-frame mast raising contraption for my Gloucester 20.

[@jdlft.w836]

A most EXCELLENT video, thank you Joe Blizzard.

[@jamesmyers3832]

Hi Joe, Thanks for your good work and taking the time and effort to share the details with fellow sailors. You have given me some good ideas, added ideas which I can incorporate with others, and reinforced other workable solutions. I am an engineer who has been sailing over 30 years on a 25', 4,000 pound displacement sailboat, which has an 85#, 28' mast. Since the mast is larger and heavier than most trailerable sailboats, safety in a rigging system is paramount. In the past, I have always stepped the mast manually, without using the benefit of much mechanical advantage. Also, and for various reasons, I have always stepped the mast forward. I prefer doing it that way since the mast has no chance of fall into the cockpit (where I may be) or on an expensive outboard in the event of catastrophic failure. I am re-evaluating the method even though a change now would generate some other modifications. As I get older I am now taking time to engineer a system to utilize my anchor windlass with remote control to raise and lower the mast safely by myself without requiring physical effort. The principles are the same, only the details are different. My first attempt was marginally successful and I am now working out the bugs. Thank you again for the chance to review your system.

[@JustinReichs]

If I could like this twice, I would. Great work, and thanks for the video.

[@ac0rn1]

Thanks so much for this! I got to this video via a link from Bob Schimmels San Juan 23 site, FYI

[@illegalgovernment]

Very good, Joe. Great system and great explanation. Am planning on making the same system for a 28' boat.

[@MrJimSchofield]

Thank you Joe for a very clear explanation. I

[@korgeth]

Cool beans. Nice to see another Hillbilly, Sailing. Great little device thanks for uploading.

[@stormkingny]

Nice work! I’m faced with the dilemma of a cheap mooring (with no waiting list) near my house but about five low bridges between there and open water.

[@catfishlee1952]

Thanks Joe, very clean.....

[@Mrflashlite]

Nice job, I am looking to build something similar for my com-pac 23.

[@Modforhd]

Joe, Brilliant. Nice engineering and seamanship. Picked up some great ideas. A question: Your line/rings keeping the mast from side to side motion - are these designed to be at the exact perpendicular/parallel of the mast base? How much sway do you get during raising even with this system? Sadly, my mast went over the port side last year during lowering, so I'm eager not to repeat that.

[@McNighthawk750]

Nice system. Would you also have details on the wooden stern yoke that you have made too? Thanks

[@BlizzardDelta]

The mast crutch is an ordinary 2x4 with a plywood saddle at the top for the mast. It hangs on the transom with pintles which plug into the rudder gudgeons. I can't mount the crutch and the rudder simultaneously, so if I ever want to lower the mast while under way I'll need to come up with something else.

[@admiralgenius1262]

good job

[@RWayne-dv3vf]

Hi Joe, I am planning to buy a 32' PDQ catamaran and live on the other side of a bridge...If I send you photos of the rigging can you build a system for me. I would pay you of course. If so, what do you think the approximate cost would be?

[@jurgenbutzke4979]

Vielen Dank für die gute Bauanleitung. Nun hat meine Sunbeam 23 auch so einen Jütbaum wie Ihr Boot.

[@CapnZman]

I have a Dragonfly Mk1 trimaran with a 34' mast weighing approximately 100 lbs. Do you have any thoughts about the A-Frame height versus mast length?

[@CK-rg2zz]

7 flakes still can't get it up

[@jlillieify]

Beautiful. I will build it. some basic questions if I could - you never mentioned how tall your mast is. If my mast is 30' would the 8' a-frame be tall enough? Concerning the temporary side stays; I would imagine that after stepping and before sailing you would remove them. When you lower how would you get the longer stays looped around the spreaders? Thanks for a wonderful video, Joe!

[@BlizzardDelta]

I just toss them up there. They're only about ten feet or so above the coach roof.

[@St34mPunkPrivateer]

So how I understand how to hook up everything below the A frame, what do you use to connect it to the mast ? Is it a halyard you tie onto or do you make a noose ?

[@stewiegonebad]

How do you keep the base of the mast stable?

[@rubennavegante3491]

Thanks ⚓⛵⚓

[@jlillieify]

How did you figure out the angle of the a-frame base hinge brackets?

[@BlizzardDelta]

A level, a protractor, and a fair amount of trial and error.

[@andrebrodeur8700]

eeeeee

[@DanyRivard]

Very ingenious. It's like the Reuel Parker schooner Ibis.

[@montew2668]

Hi Joe, Just brilliant piece of engineering and workmanship! I just got a Catalina 25 and was wondering how I could raise and lower the mast by myself! I'm going to try making one of these for my boat. Thanks for posting this! All the best, Monte

[@rickhorvath]

Well done!

[@mikedhsr007]

My problem with 22ft has been side to side mast movement especially when the mast is at the lower position raising or lowering. The video does not focus on the action of the rigging you employ to show how it acts to keep the mast centered. Could you elaborate on that please ? Another comment referenced the same issue. I have considered an A frame as you constructed to stabilize and eliminate mast side to side tendencies.Look forward to your thoughts