[Rhodes22-list] Chet about Mast raising question

[chetc]

True Ed, but I think a herd of elephants might even cost more than a mast
crane!:-)

I haven't yet picked up my boat, so I don't know if the mainsheet tackle
could be attached to something else on the stern.

One of these days I may invest in this so-called "mast crane", but I haven't
even seen a picture of it, let alone a price. Truth is, this old boat will
probably need copious amounts of money thrown at it in some other areas, so
anything I can do without spending additional $$$ would be nice.

Is the boom strong enough? I don't know...the literature I cited was
obviously referring to the earlier Rhodes with a conventional mast. 

As I said, the whole idea of raising from the foredeck seems almost too good
to be true. For instance, think about how difficult it would be to pin the
past to the tabernacle with the weight of the mast all hanging in front of
the bow pulpit. It just seems problematic.

chet  



Tootle wrote:
> 
> Chet:
> 
> Any mast can be raised by a herd of elephants.
> 
> Stan's mast crane system is not expensive when you understand that one
> person of ordinary strength can safely raise and lower the mast from the
> stern mast holder.
> 
> Raising the mast from the foredeck is done by Captain Rummy, ask him for
> detailed instructions, which he has typed on the list in the past.  
> 
> However, using the boom as a gin pole in the direction that you are
> suggesting begets two questions.  Is the boom on the Rhodes 22 strong
> enough for the task with the IMF mast.  Suggest you research early
> failures using jin poles of non sufficient strength.  Second question is
> the location of main sheet to accomplish task.  On the Rhodes 22 the main
> sheet is attached to the back stays.  That presumes the mast is already
> up.  There is no fitting closer in to attach mainsheet.  I am not convince
> that you get a good angle attaching the mainsheet to the stern rail to use
> the boom as a jin pole.  That leaves you holding the main sheet in your
> hand.  
> 
> I am sure that Captain Rummy will offer you more positive assurances.  
> 
> Ed K
> Greenville, SC, USA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> chetc wrote:
>> 
>> Hi gang,
>> 
>> Please read the following (which I found in the archives) and tell me if
>> you think this is truly do-able on a boat with the Inner Mast Furling. It
>> almost sounds too good to be true...
>> 
>> "RAISING THE MAST has been made easy on trailerable boats because the
>> base of the mast slips into some sort of hinge system. But in some boat
>> designs the mast is not positively bolted to the hinge or has to be held
>> at an angle to clear the hatch to fit the hinged step. The experience of
>> a mast flying free while trying to raise it, makes me appreciate the
>> positive bolted system(that starts at rest)of the RC. Many boats do not
>> have the shrouds positioned to prevent the mast from falling sideways
>> while moving thru the raising arc. And invariably the mast can only be
>> raised forward by standing in the cockpit to get leverage while
>> sacrificing height, or standing on the cabin roof to get height while
>> sacrificing leverage.
>> But what if the mast were raised backwards and the upper shrouds were in
>> line with the pivoting base of the mast? Then you could stand on the
>> foredeck(higher than the cockpit) and at the bow (more leverage than on
>> the cabin roof) and one person could handle it with continuous sideways
>> support from the shrouds. If the doctor says not to exert yourself even
>> this much, then, with the boom attached to the mast, the halyard to the
>> end of the boom, and the main sheet in its normal configuration, you have
>> -a built-in mechanical advantage hoist that will let you delegate mast
>> raising to almost anyone.
>> This is how the RHODES 22 does it. The backward approach is made possible
>> by an extra set of lower shrouds that fasten forward of the mast.
>> Stability is provided by upper shrouds to chain plates in line with the
>> mast’s pivoting plane.
>> Few other makes have double lowers so their masts can not be raised aft.
>> The few brands that do have double lowers fail to offer a hinge that
>> allows backward raising."
>> 
>> So, the question is, is it truly easier to lower the mast forward/raise
>> the mast rearward? and does it work well to use the boom as a gin pole
>> and use the main sheet tackle for mechanical advantage?
>> 
>> Yes, I know I can purchase an expensive mast crane that may be the
>> ultimate, but I really shouldn't need it if the above works. Right?
>> 
>> As always, your opinions and experience are most appreciated.
>> 
>> chet
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 

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