[Rhodes22-list] (no subject)

[Bob Weber]

Marc, I Prefer to raise and lower the mast in the water.  On the trailer it 
is too far overhead to get a muscle on.  Also the first step I do when 
lowering is to remove the furler/forstay and secure it to the mast.  So you 
got my first 2 steps complete the next step (important) is disconnect the 
poptop slider from the mast and any wires (antenna/steaming light) from 
their fittings.  Pull into the slip forward, somewhere where there is pier 
infront of the boat for a person to walk 10-15 feet infront of the boat.  
With all four lower stays attached remove the rear stays and have someone 
apply down/rearwards pressure on the now loose backstays ( if there is a 
traveler between them, it makes a great handhold ).    While someone is 
keeping backward pressure on backstays disconnect the 2 lower backstays.  
Keep the mast loosely bolted to the tabernacle (so the mast will pivit but 
not move fore or aft).  Now the lower forstays are keeping the mast from 
going aft and the person holding the traveler keeps the mast from going 
forward.  The person  holding the traveler bar starts easing the mast 
forward while another person will be on the bow to share the weight.  Once 
it gets to about 30 deg. the person in the back will not be able to hold 
weight.  The person in the front has the load as he walks further forward of 
the boat easing it down as he walks.  When you go shopping for helpers find 
someone who has a similar boat ( catalina 22 or such ) take someone with 
experience over brawn, my wife and I are able to do the job just fine and 
she weighs less than the mast.  Good Luck - maby this is a opertunity to buy 
roller furling if you didnt already have it.

Bob Weber





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