Advice from someone with 6 stitches: Never stand above or in front of the base of the mast prior to attaching the bolt. If the crutch fails the mast will bounce and cut through a leg or belly with potentially lethal results.
Thanks for this concise video. I have a new to me C22 in the driveway and have until spring to figure this all out. Would rather not look the fool on the first go round. Plan to do a driveway practice first
This took all of 5 minutes. Absolutely amazing! Definitely a help when you don't want to wait for the bridge schedulie in Chicago on Chicago's River North branch. Thanks for the vid.
Ah, the joys of absolutely calm water and wind in the process of solo raising and lowering the mast. You’ll enjoy having friends assisting when conditions are not calm.
Indeed a joy but I rarely have any assistance so I use the boom as a gin pole when conditions get sporty. See my other videos for a demonstration and setup details.
@@stingysailor5677 Back in the day when keeping a 30’ wooden ketch with wooden mast stepped in a bronze tabernacle, I devised a scissors jack to hold the laid down mast aft. That same device acted in place of a gin pole when raising the mast. It was a merry dance indeed when raising it solo just enough to take the weight from the jack long enough to move it forward to improve the raising angle - especially when the container ships came in to dock on the opposite side of Newark Bay.
Thank you a lot for this video, I need to raise the mast of my boat alone and was wondering how to do that, this video was great to know how to do it. Thanks again for sharing!
+Jed Williams Glad you like it. You're close on the music track. It is indeed Phil Keaggy but the song is Spend My Life With You from his Acoustic Sketches album.
Great video. I watched this when I started sailing 4 years ago, and still haven’t tried this yet. I think I will practice in my driveway, before putting the bot away for the winter.
Excellent video. Well done with the comments. (thank you for no obnoxious music) I would love to see close-ups, but haven't checked out the website yet, so hopefully they are there.
Thanks a bunch for the video! I'm looking to get a Catalina/Jaguar 22 and as my part of Europe has a lot of low bridges I need to know how to raise and lower the mast (fairly) easily
Well, quick release on the forward shrouds. That answers my question. I raised my C22 mast for the first time the other day and the forward shrouds wouldn't connect. I thought I had done something wrong, but I guess that's the way they are set up and have to be loosened and tighten every time. I'll see what I can do about fitting mine out with the quick release levers. Thanks
Crutch is such a big part. But I found putting emphasis on aft lower shrouds for hand grenades was the way to go. Only takes two and makes it easier to set fore and aft tension with aft lowers providing quick release tension made it super easy to rig in tune every time for Santa Barbara15 it consistent winds
I owned a J30 Sailboat with a 46 ft keel stepped mast. I used to trailer it to other States to race it. I found a discarded broken mast that I was able to splice back together. It was just tall enough that I could use it to raise my J30 mast with. I would raise this temporary mast like you raised yours using a base plate fastened to a board, that I placed on the deck in front of the hole in the cabin top that the real mast would go down through. Then I used a block and tackle and a winch on the boat to raise the J30 mast. I was self supporting and carried this other mast stowed on the trailer under my J30.
Stingy: Frickin' brilliant. I just watched a whole slew of mast raising videos, most using gin poles + A-frames, and a variety of comealong/winch-on-ginpole/block&tackle setups. I could see the gin-pole + a-frame was very "Rube Goldberg", too many parts to setup/teardown/stow. While watching I was designing in my head to simplify and, voila', your video is (almost) exactly what I had in mind... extendable stern crutch + block & tackle + quick-release shroud levers. The trick is having a super-simple-setup you can use on the water for both raising and lowering the mast... KISS... you can't have too many pieces to stow and deploy on a small boat with little storage space and a platform in constant 3-dimensional movement. The one thing I'd add is a simple baby stay, using spectra to keep the mast from moving side-to-side... without this you could easily rip the mast tabernacle out of the deck with a bit of side movement, mast and rig in the water... ouch. Spectra is better than a rigid A-frame... zero stretch, easy to stow, use tension rather than compression... I'd tie to the mast using the main-track-eye, and to the deck using genoa-track & cars, track-eye at the height to give a 45 degree angle... need to position the cars exactly perpendicular to track-eye for constant equal tension... once you have the mast raised appx 70 degrees the shrouds have enough tension to stabilize side-to-side movement. Also just watched your video on Highfield levers and quick pins... Love your channel... subscribed. BD
Thanks for subscribing, BD! You can see how I use baby stays attached to the end of the boom when I use it as a gin pole in one of my other videos, same idea, quick and simple.
Awesome! I just bought a 22' MacGregor for a steal. I learned how to sail on the same boat you have. It is very clean sir, you are a good Captain. M. ;)
Some boats, like my Tanzer 22, have shrouds (the sidestays) that are attached slightly forward and slightly below the mast step. So you need to add springs or some other system at their bottom ends, then be able to take up the slack when the mast goes up. Tanzer 22 owners who have lowered the mast without taking this into account have severely stressed and bent the chainplates to which they attach. So, just saying: check the geometry of your shrouds before trying to raise or lower the mast. Great video Stingy.
You will need to disconnect the forward side shrouds and then after the mast is raised they will need to be reconnected like he is doing at 4:24. Hope this helps!
Outstanding! I would love to see & learn more about the shroud & Forestay quick connects you use! They must be able to handle a couple thousand lbs of tension & have a cam of some kind.
Hi, Eric. I describe the quick release levers in this article: stingysailor.com/2019/08/24/how-to-step-a-mast-single-handed-with-or-without-using-the-boom-as-a-gin-pole-2/
That's correct. The upper shrouds help hold the mast vertical until you push it over center, then they start to slacken slowly along with the aft lower shrouds. They stay attached always except for maintenance.
Excellent video! Easy to follow and nice narration. Too many sail boat videos are just horrible. Cant see what they are doing because their videography sucks or they just dont explain what they are doing in a way that anyone can understand them. Home made mast saddle at the pulpit.....Nice work!
I tried this without an adjustable mast crutch and it really didn't work. The mast does need to have some incline already (ie mast crutch raised or get it started manually) for it to work - otherwise it takes some type of gin pole leverage. Awesome video.
I have a block and tackle with a mechanical advantage of 4. I can't seem to budge the mast up. What mechanical advantage does your system have? Thanks.
+Ricky32908 Mines a 26 too and I've never had the mast down but only had the boat a few months, will be taking down next spring though for refurbishment & topsides painting.
I’m in Nelson BC, just signed up for emails. Very appreciative of all your upgrades and fixes for my Schock 23.2 wing keel. Is it me or is the bow railing the pulpit and the aft the push Pit?
The Catalina 22 has a bracket on the cabin top with a removable bolt that acts like a hinge. It holds the bottom of the mast in place while it rotates into position.
Thanks! I raised it with your method, and it worked well. How would you lower the mast with just a mainsheet, since the cam cleat will grab it? Do you use a different block without a cam cleat? Reverse the mainsheet?
Question: I've got a '92 Cat22 and would like to also install a Bimini, can you make ant recommendations brandwise, and do you have it mounted forward to clear the traveller? Anything you'd change? Thanks, Tim Yours is by far the quickest mast stepping I've seen. I've rigged up a rope and pulley to duplicate it.
Hi, Tim. It's been 9 years since I installed my bimini and I'm not familiar with what brands or online sellers are available nowadays. When I purchased mine, I just looked for one that met my size and material requirements at the lowest price. The closest interference that I have with mine is with the winches but, with the adjustable track, I can position it right where I want it. The only thing that I would change, and I might still do it, is to make a small, clear window to make it easier to see the mainsail from under the bimini. Right now, I either have to be seated fully forward and stick my head out one side or be seated fully aft to see over the bimini, neither are optimal. Other than that, I'm very happy with it.
Just got a hunter 23 I'm sure I could use the same system but looking at you I feel like my mast is a lot heavier and I'm a pretty strong guy I think a gin pole is necessary in my case and something to prevent the mast from swinging unless I have somebody to help me Thanks for the video
Hi , Check out Steve Hocks ( Raising the mast on a Catalina 22 ) video ! I use his way on my Catalina 25 and works great ! Very safe . I have a strong pole attached to the trailer instead of Steves way ! You'll understand what I'm talking about if you watch the video ! All the best, Monte
This is a wonderful way to raise the mast single-handedly. I did it this way this season and it was really simple because the cleat on the main sheet acts as a safety to keep the mast from coming down. The trouble is, when I try to do the reverse operation and take the mast down using the main sheet, the cleat still keeps the mast from coming down. Do you have any tips for single-handedly lowering the mast using the main sheet?
Lowering is a little bit trickier using the main sheet because it is so easy to cleat the line and prevent it from lowering. But that also makes is very safe. If it any point during lowering something gets fouled, you can easily cleat the line, clear the foul, and resume lowering. I pull the line out of the cleat and hold just enough tension on the line so that it runs over the top of the cleat jaws during lowering but doesn't open them unless I want to cleat the line. It takes a little practice but you'll get the hang of it.
I'm about to do this for the first time. Same model boat. Zero experience. So you attach the back stay and try to keep the shrouds clear as the mast rises? I have no crutch. This is gonna be an experience. Thanks for the video.
we just used this technique to raise our mast on our Catalina 25 and it worked great! Now we have to get it down...can you use the same technique using just the main sheet? Thank you for your videos they are very helpful!!
You made it look easy, I tried to raise my Venus 22 mast using this method and unfortunately I can see a disaster happening trying this alone so I am off to build a gin pole. Perhaps my mast is lead lined.....LOL
This method isn't for everybody. Have you seen my other video Raising the Catalina 22 Mast Using the Boom as a Gin Pole (ua-cam.com/video/l81rwc6-8SM/v-deo.html)?
Thank you so very much! A couple of quick questions: 1.) Are the quick connects on the forward shrouds the same size as the main forward shroud? I purchased the front shrowd quick connect do I just purchase two more identical ones? (Catalina Direct), 2.) Do I need to purchase any additional hardware to use my main sheet as you did to connect it forward and to the forward shroud or is the hardware for connecting it to the boom the same?
Yes, all of the quick release levers are the same size. Just be sure the connection terminal type is the same as the wire you are connecting it to, either eye or screw. I use the same hardware in both places but your setup might be different and you might need another shackle or other hardware to make the connections.
I notice you had your forestay free after raising the mast. My Santana stays were both behind the mast and you did not dare to use the forestay to raise the mast. i used the topping lift..
You should be able to get them anywhere that sells Johnson Marine hardware. For more info, see stingysailor.com/2015/07/25/quit-spending-setup-time-on-turnbuckles-2/e
In my life, If there is a line, rope, cable, side stay, head stay, any stay.....it's going to get caught, tangle, trip, bind or bend. Now, if I had a line with hooks, loops or tangles to get caught on something to save my life by chance...it'll flow smoothly over any surface, even if it had rebar sticking out at odd angles to catch onto. This is why I disconnect everything except the rear stay and the aft side stays.... and yes..retune it all. It's only 2x a season. ;)
Right at the 2:37 mark he said he was using the Main Sheet to raise it. There is alot of mechanical advantage built into those. Usually 4:1 with a change of angle or 5:1 if your pulling the other direction. Either way he makes it look almost effortless.
also important is the adjustable mast crutch - once the mast has over 10 degrees incline, the main sheet tackle can really pull it up - when the mast is flat, it cant do it well at all
So if I saw this right you disconnected only the two side stays on the front towards the bow and the forestay and then lowered it? I need to lower and raise the mast as I have business to do on top and dont feel like climbing it haha
@@stingysailor5677 Thanks! I did that as I thought my topping lift for my furler was stuck at top, turns out I dont have any. Its a fixer upper, but thats just annoying. I use the spinnaker halyard now, clip in the jib and raise but I cant furl it as the halyard wraps around aswell this way....
Yes or a mast stepper. You can purchase one from a certain online Catalina parts retailer or, if you know somebody who's handy at fabricating metal, they can make you one using the plan available on my Downloads page for subscribers at stingysailor.com/downloads-faq/.
WOW dude, you make that look too easy. I want to see all of the comedy out takes with you cussing the boat when the lines get tangled up, or the boat drifts out into the channel (more cussing), or your foot gets tangled in the lines and you fall overboard, or you forgot to put the drain plug in, the dog chewed through the aft stay and you are holding up the mast cussing and hollaring for help... everybody knows that shit doesn't go that smooth the first 20 times that you try it. lol
Stuff does happen! There's just too many moving parts for it not to, usually if I don't take as much time to double-check everything like in this video. But when it does, it's easy enough to cleat the mast off where it is, clear the problem, and continue.
No lie... I've used brute force and an extra back to raise mine in the past... Back breaking. Made me size down my boat because of the hassle. Great video!
It doesn't have a special name. It's just the main sheet tackle with two fiddle blocks and a cam cleat that normally controls the boom angle. Any 3:1 or 4:1 tackle setup long enough would work such as a boom vang with an extra long control line.
@@stingysailor5677 Thank you been very helpful , IAM trying to pull up my mast pole that is 18 ,1/2 ft. by 3x,4 in. & To pull it up & set into the boot ,& put stays in by yourself is very challenging . So I need something to help me get it up !!
I don't understand how the mast did not swing or sway side to side, especially with the boat being on the water. My boat was smaller than this with a lighter mast but it did damage to the tabernacle deck mounting, and that was on land.
Hi, Stephan It does want to swing to the sides a bit but if you hold it centered until the shrouds start to become tight at about 45 degrees, the rest is relatively easy.
@@stingysailor5677 Ok thanks, I think also on my boat deck access, when you were getting to critical angles was difficult, ie the cabin got in the way of things.
In principle, yes, but in reality, probably not due to the weight of the mast and the fact that most sailboats of that size are keel stepped. So you would not only have to raise the mast but also suspend it off the deck until it was vertical and could be lowered through the cabin. All things considered, a crane is your best option.
@@stingysailor5677 Thanks for replying. Your very kind. My mast is deck stepped but I'm sure there is a weight issue. Thanks. You can see my boat on youtube .. "Traveling with Lily 90" Thanks.
You may not realize how close you are to a serious problem doing like this, but you should be aware of it. When the bottom points of side shrouds are not in line with a pivot of the must - just the case of Catalina and many other boats - the shrouds can hold the mast ONLY when the must is in vertical position, otherwise they are loose. At the same time when you rise the mast by pulling its front stay toward the bow the mast has a tendency to fall aside (it's just a matter of pure geometry), and not being held by idle shrouds it may damage its foot or even root the mast's base out. Thus, if you are alone, holding the must with your hand may not bet enough (you've been just lucky so far), and explicit special measures must be taken to keep the mast in the boat's longitudinal section all the time.
With all due respect, Yuriy, I understand the geometry and the risks. I've been doing this for years in conditions from mild to wild without a single accident. You are incorrect about the shrouds holding the mast ONLY when it is in the vertical position. The upper shrouds of C-22 begin to tighten when the mast as at approximately 45 degrees and are plenty tight enough to prevent the mast from falling to either side enough to do any damage. You can see this clearly in the video starting at about 3:30. From that point forward, the shrouds and the forestay form a very stable triangle. Regardless, anybody who isn't confident in using this method shouldn't use it and should employ different rigging.
Well, I wasn't that lucky like you and one day I did get the foot of my mast damaged (thanks God, not too much) while operating like you do. That's why I thought my bad experience may be useful to other people; at least they should realize the risk. And because of that case I made a fixture (kind of removable "wings", appr. 5' each) which guarantees that during rising the mast upper shrouds are not loose at any moment because their low ends being connected to the fixture are in line with the mast's pivot. Frankly speaking the fixture is not ultimately simple but it's not a "rocket science" as well. And the most important thing - the system does work very well leaving no room to mishaps.
Thanks for the clarification, Yuriy. I'm glad you didn't have too much damage. When the wind is blowing too hard, the boat isn't level such as if I'm setting up in a launch area, or the water's too choppy, I use the boom as a gin pole and attach two "baby stays" to the end of the boom and lash the bottom ends to the tops of the middle stanchions, which are almost perfectly in line with the mast pivot point. They help to keep the mast and boom centered for additional safety. You can see these blue lines in this video: ua-cam.com/video/w0Sc1e3MXyA/v-deo.html
Thank you, Stingy Sailor, I saw this your video before and found it useful. I'm glad that we understand each other so well. Please, have a nice sailing.
I guess I’m too short and too weak to do it that way. I wound up dropping it on my shoulder. Ouch! Here is how I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years without any injuries - ua-cam.com/video/Si612QhnFPM/v-deo.html
I appreciate the calm voiceover work. It sounds like you're narrating a golf game.
Advice from someone with 6 stitches: Never stand above or in front of the base of the mast prior to attaching the bolt. If the crutch fails the mast will bounce and cut through a leg or belly with potentially lethal results.
This was one of the very first videos I ever made and yes, I got the audio level too low but if you turn up your volume, you should hear it fine.
Trying to lift the mast on a Catalina 22. This has been invaluable for learning. Thank you so much.
Great stuff, thanks for taking the time to show this process.
You made it look easy! Thanks for posting.
Awesome video, I can't wait to give this a shot on my boat. Thanks for your help!
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video.
very impressive. Thanks for putting together this really helpful video
Thank you Stingy Sailor! Planning for some mast stepping practice in the driveway before I hit the water for the first time
This took me 45 minutes to do in the driveway the first time. But it worked and im satisfied. Thanks for the video. Your series is excellent
😅😊
Enjoyed this, great video!
Excellent video. Thank you for posting.
I see lots of videos putting the mast up. Love to see some on taking the mast down. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for this concise video. I have a new to me C22 in the driveway and have until spring to figure this all out. Would rather not look the fool on the first go round. Plan to do a driveway practice first
very informative and easy to follow
This took all of 5 minutes. Absolutely amazing! Definitely a help when you don't want to wait for the bridge schedulie in Chicago on Chicago's River North branch. Thanks for the vid.
Ah, the joys of absolutely calm water and wind in the process of solo raising and lowering the mast. You’ll enjoy having friends assisting when conditions are not calm.
Indeed a joy but I rarely have any assistance so I use the boom as a gin pole when conditions get sporty. See my other videos for a demonstration and setup details.
@@stingysailor5677 Back in the day when keeping a 30’ wooden ketch with wooden mast stepped in a bronze tabernacle, I devised a scissors jack to hold the laid down mast aft. That same device acted in place of a gin pole when raising the mast. It was a merry dance indeed when raising it solo just enough to take the weight from the jack long enough to move it forward to improve the raising angle - especially when the container ships came in to dock on the opposite side of Newark Bay.
Very cool video, also very handy for my smaller 18 ft open sailboat
thnx for sharing
Thank you a lot for this video, I need to raise the mast of my boat alone and was wondering how to do that, this video was great to know how to do it. Thanks again for sharing!
Great video and I sure like listening to bits of Master and the Musician while watching!
+Jed Williams Glad you like it. You're close on the music track. It is indeed Phil Keaggy but the song is Spend My Life With You from his Acoustic Sketches album.
I never got the mast up on my Catalina 22 that quickly and easily...geeze, you made it look easy!
Thanks! This is by far the simplest, best solution I have seen!
terrific instruction guy. voice is a gift.
Thank you for posting. Great video
Great video. I watched this when I started sailing 4 years ago, and still haven’t tried this yet. I think I will practice in my driveway, before putting the bot away for the winter.
It is dangerous. I use a safe technique instead.
Excellent job!
Excellent video. Well done with the comments. (thank you for no obnoxious music) I would love to see close-ups, but haven't checked out the website yet, so hopefully they are there.
I'm, impressed!
I really enjoyed this video
I fixed the link. That "pole" attached to the transom is called a mast crutch or mast stepper. You can learn more about it in the article at the link.
Thanks a bunch for the video! I'm looking to get a Catalina/Jaguar 22 and as my part of Europe has a lot of low bridges I need to know how to raise and lower the mast (fairly) easily
Thanks, that vid is excellent! super technic.
Beautiful! Glade the mast raising system worked better than the audio
Well, quick release on the forward shrouds. That answers my question. I raised my C22 mast for the first time the other day and the forward shrouds wouldn't connect. I thought I had done something wrong, but I guess that's the way they are set up and have to be loosened and tighten every time. I'll see what I can do about fitting mine out with the quick release levers. Thanks
Crutch is such a big part. But I found putting emphasis on aft lower shrouds for hand grenades was the way to go. Only takes two and makes it easier to set fore and aft tension with aft lowers providing quick release tension made it super easy to rig in tune every time for Santa Barbara15 it consistent winds
Pretty slick! Only draw back I see..., u don't get to meet nice people by asking for a hand! Thanks for sharing.
I owned a J30 Sailboat with a 46 ft keel stepped mast. I used to trailer it to other States to race it. I found a discarded broken mast that I was able to splice back together. It was just tall enough that I could use it to raise my J30 mast with.
I would raise this temporary mast like you raised yours using a base plate fastened to a board, that I placed on the deck in front of the hole in the cabin top that the real mast would go down through.
Then I used a block and tackle and a winch on the boat to raise the J30 mast.
I was self supporting and carried this other mast stowed on the trailer under my J30.
Great solution! I helped a friend step his J80 mast that way.
Stingy: Frickin' brilliant. I just watched a whole slew of mast raising videos, most using gin poles + A-frames, and a variety of comealong/winch-on-ginpole/block&tackle setups. I could see the gin-pole + a-frame was very "Rube Goldberg", too many parts to setup/teardown/stow. While watching I was designing in my head to simplify and, voila', your video is (almost) exactly what I had in mind... extendable stern crutch + block & tackle + quick-release shroud levers.
The trick is having a super-simple-setup you can use on the water for both raising and lowering the mast... KISS... you can't have too many pieces to stow and deploy on a small boat with little storage space and a platform in constant 3-dimensional movement. The one thing I'd add is a simple baby stay, using spectra to keep the mast from moving side-to-side... without this you could easily rip the mast tabernacle out of the deck with a bit of side movement, mast and rig in the water... ouch. Spectra is better than a rigid A-frame... zero stretch, easy to stow, use tension rather than compression... I'd tie to the mast using the main-track-eye, and to the deck using genoa-track & cars, track-eye at the height to give a 45 degree angle... need to position the cars exactly perpendicular to track-eye for constant equal tension... once you have the mast raised appx 70 degrees the shrouds have enough tension to stabilize side-to-side movement.
Also just watched your video on Highfield levers and quick pins... Love your channel... subscribed. BD
Thanks for subscribing, BD! You can see how I use baby stays attached to the end of the boom when I use it as a gin pole in one of my other videos, same idea, quick and simple.
@@stingysailor5677: Thanks to you mi Amigo... your blog is pure excellence.
good video, very informative!
Awesome! I just bought a 22' MacGregor for a steal. I learned how to sail on the same boat you have. It is very clean sir, you are a good Captain. M. ;)
U still have your McGregor?
Some boats, like my Tanzer 22, have shrouds (the sidestays) that are attached slightly forward and slightly below the mast step. So you need to add springs or some other system at their bottom ends, then be able to take up the slack when the mast goes up. Tanzer 22 owners who have lowered the mast without taking this into account have severely stressed and bent the chainplates to which they attach. So, just saying: check the geometry of your shrouds before trying to raise or lower the mast. Great video Stingy.
You will need to disconnect the forward side shrouds and then after the mast is raised they will need to be reconnected like he is doing at 4:24. Hope this helps!
Great and informative video! Gotta figure out if I can do this with a Catalina 25 lol..
Outstanding! I would love to see & learn more about the shroud & Forestay quick connects you use! They must be able to handle a couple thousand lbs of tension & have a cam of some kind.
Hi, Eric. I describe the quick release levers in this article: stingysailor.com/2019/08/24/how-to-step-a-mast-single-handed-with-or-without-using-the-boom-as-a-gin-pole-2/
That's correct. The upper shrouds help hold the mast vertical until you push it over center, then they start to slacken slowly along with the aft lower shrouds. They stay attached always except for maintenance.
This is basically how I raise mine but with the spinnaker halyard.
good job
Very cool
Excellent video! Easy to follow and nice narration. Too many sail boat videos are just horrible. Cant see what they are doing because their videography sucks or they just dont explain what they are doing in a way that anyone can understand them. Home made mast saddle at the pulpit.....Nice work!
I tried this without an adjustable mast crutch and it really didn't work. The mast does need to have some incline already (ie mast crutch raised or get it started manually) for it to work - otherwise it takes some type of gin pole leverage. Awesome video.
so the only shrouds you disconnected were the forward lower ones?
Thank you
I have a block and tackle with a mechanical advantage of 4. I can't seem to budge the mast up. What mechanical advantage does your system have? Thanks.
If you fasten the forestay first, then the front shrouds this will work a little easier.
Used this method yesterday with the wife at a mooring.
thanks for your videos. Can you explain that pulley system you're using? thanks again.
See my article stingysailor.com/2019/08/24/how-to-step-a-mast-single-handed-with-or-without-using-the-boom-as-a-gin-pole-2/
I'm impressed. It never goes that well for me. Bud
+Bud Hackett just did it today... lowered it without all those fancy pulleys and stuff.....scary man, very scary mines a 26
+Ricky32908 Mines a 26 too and I've never had the mast down but only had the boat a few months, will be taking down next spring though for refurbishment & topsides painting.
I’m in Nelson BC, just signed up for emails. Very appreciative of all your upgrades and fixes for my Schock 23.2 wing keel. Is it me or is the bow railing the pulpit and the aft the push Pit?
That's correct but some sailors call them all pulpits.
Thanks for this video. How did you ensure that the bottom of the mast slips-in faultlessly in its support?
The Catalina 22 has a bracket on the cabin top with a removable bolt that acts like a hinge. It holds the bottom of the mast in place while it rotates into position.
Thanks! I raised it with your method, and it worked well. How would you lower the mast with just a mainsheet, since the cam cleat will grab it? Do you use a different block without a cam cleat? Reverse the mainsheet?
For lowering, check out my other video ua-cam.com/video/Wr6pvPkH6H0/v-deo.html
Well done! This will be ideal for a Beneteau F235. How did you measure for the stern roller crutch? How tall,is it? How is the base secured?
Richard, I have a dimensioned fabrication drawing available for subscribers to my website at stingysailor.com/downloads-faq/
@@stingysailor5677 thank you
Question: I've got a '92 Cat22 and would like to also install a Bimini, can you make ant recommendations brandwise, and do you have it mounted forward to clear the traveller? Anything you'd change?
Thanks, Tim
Yours is by far the quickest mast stepping I've seen. I've rigged up a rope and pulley to duplicate it.
Hi, Tim. It's been 9 years since I installed my bimini and I'm not familiar with what brands or online sellers are available nowadays. When I purchased mine, I just looked for one that met my size and material requirements at the lowest price. The closest interference that I have with mine is with the winches but, with the adjustable track, I can position it right where I want it. The only thing that I would change, and I might still do it, is to make a small, clear window to make it easier to see the mainsail from under the bimini. Right now, I either have to be seated fully forward and stick my head out one side or be seated fully aft to see over the bimini, neither are optimal. Other than that, I'm very happy with it.
When I saw this man about to step a mast with the boat in the water, I knew he wasn't fucking around...
Subscribed. I hope you're still around.
Yep, I'm still around. Just not as active online as in the past.
Just got a hunter 23 I'm sure I could use the same system but looking at you I feel like my mast is a lot heavier and I'm a pretty strong guy I think a gin pole is necessary in my case and something to prevent the mast from swinging unless I have somebody to help me
Thanks for the video
Hi , Check out Steve Hocks ( Raising the mast on a Catalina 22 ) video ! I use his way on my Catalina 25 and works great ! Very safe . I have a strong pole attached to the trailer instead of Steves way ! You'll understand what I'm talking about if you watch the video ! All the best, Monte
Something I do is point the boat either into or out of the wind, so a gust doesn't send the mast over the side.
The link doesn't work. What is that while pole attached to the transom?
This is a wonderful way to raise the mast single-handedly. I did it this way this season and it was really simple because the cleat on the main sheet acts as a safety to keep the mast from coming down. The trouble is, when I try to do the reverse operation and take the mast down using the main sheet, the cleat still keeps the mast from coming down. Do you have any tips for single-handedly lowering the mast using the main sheet?
Lowering is a little bit trickier using the main sheet because it is so easy to cleat the line and prevent it from lowering. But that also makes is very safe. If it any point during lowering something gets fouled, you can easily cleat the line, clear the foul, and resume lowering. I pull the line out of the cleat and hold just enough tension on the line so that it runs over the top of the cleat jaws during lowering but doesn't open them unless I want to cleat the line. It takes a little practice but you'll get the hang of it.
10th fan
Thank Nice yatht
I'm about to do this for the first time. Same model boat. Zero experience. So you attach the back stay and try to keep the shrouds clear as the mast rises? I have no crutch. This is gonna be an experience. Thanks for the video.
Yep, only disconnect the forward lower shrouds and the forestay.
we just used this technique to raise our mast on our Catalina 25 and it worked great! Now we have to get it down...can you use the same technique using just the main sheet? Thank you for your videos they are very helpful!!
Yes, see my separate video.
@@stingysailor5677 are you referring to the one using the boom?
@@donnaprunier3873 Yes, this one: ua-cam.com/video/Wr6pvPkH6H0/v-deo.html
You made it look easy, I tried to raise my Venus 22 mast using this method and unfortunately I can see a disaster happening trying this alone so I am off to build a gin pole. Perhaps my mast is lead lined.....LOL
This method isn't for everybody. Have you seen my other video Raising the Catalina 22 Mast Using the Boom as a Gin Pole (ua-cam.com/video/l81rwc6-8SM/v-deo.html)?
Thank you so very much! A couple of quick questions: 1.) Are the quick connects on the forward shrouds the same size as the main forward shroud? I purchased the front shrowd quick connect do I just purchase two more identical ones? (Catalina Direct), 2.) Do I need to purchase any additional hardware to use my main sheet as you did to connect it forward and to the forward shroud or is the hardware for connecting it to the boom the same?
Yes, all of the quick release levers are the same size. Just be sure the connection terminal type is the same as the wire you are connecting it to, either eye or screw. I use the same hardware in both places but your setup might be different and you might need another shackle or other hardware to make the connections.
@@stingysailor5677 Thank you. Very, very helpful for a newbi like me.
I notice you had your forestay free after raising the mast. My Santana stays were both behind the mast and you did not dare to use the forestay to raise the mast. i used the topping lift..
I would have put a jamming to stop the forestay going adrift and crashing the mast while you connect the other stays and shouds,
where did you buy the bimini?
Stepping a MacGregor with the supplied gin pole is, imo, a better system
Nice! Which quick release connectors are you using?
Read about them here: stingysailor.com/2019/09/28/quit-spending-setup-time-on-turnbuckles-2/
Where can I buy the quick release levers? I haven’t bought my cat 22 yet but it seemed like something that would be a good investment once I buy it.
You should be able to get them anywhere that sells Johnson Marine hardware. For more info, see stingysailor.com/2015/07/25/quit-spending-setup-time-on-turnbuckles-2/e
Is that the MastUp mast stepper from Catalina Direct? If so, how do you like it so far?
No, it's similar but I made it myself. Subscribers to my site at stingysailor.com can download a fabrication drawing.
In my life, If there is a line, rope, cable, side stay, head stay, any stay.....it's going to get caught, tangle, trip, bind or bend. Now, if I had a line with hooks, loops or tangles to get caught on something to save my life by chance...it'll flow smoothly over any surface, even if it had rebar sticking out at odd angles to catch onto. This is why I disconnect everything except the rear stay and the aft side stays.... and yes..retune it all. It's only 2x a season. ;)
I'm pretty sure Murphy was a sailor ; )
Stingy, what are you using to gain the mechanical advantage? Something from the running rigging, or something extra?
Right at the 2:37 mark he said he was using the Main Sheet to raise it. There is alot of mechanical advantage built into those. Usually 4:1 with a change of angle or 5:1 if your pulling the other direction. Either way he makes it look almost effortless.
also important is the adjustable mast crutch - once the mast has over 10 degrees incline, the main sheet tackle can really pull it up - when the mast is flat, it cant do it well at all
I wonder if you can do this with a roller furler ?
Yes, but it's heavier and more complicated, so I don't recommended doing it without a gin pole of some sort and a helper or two.
Come again?
So if I saw this right you disconnected only the two side stays on the front towards the bow and the forestay and then lowered it?
I need to lower and raise the mast as I have business to do on top and dont feel like climbing it haha
That's correct. Leave the upper, aft lower shrouds, and backstay connected. Lower the mast slow and easy. You can do it!
@@stingysailor5677 Thanks! I did that as I thought my topping lift for my furler was stuck at top, turns out I dont have any.
Its a fixer upper, but thats just annoying. I use the spinnaker halyard now, clip in the jib and raise but I cant furl it as the halyard wraps around aswell this way....
I need one of those crutches, is that the real name or is it something else ?
Yes or a mast stepper. You can purchase one from a certain online Catalina parts retailer or, if you know somebody who's handy at fabricating metal, they can make you one using the plan available on my Downloads page for subscribers at stingysailor.com/downloads-faq/.
WOW dude, you make that look too easy.
I want to see all of the comedy out takes with you cussing the boat when the lines get tangled up, or the boat drifts out into the channel (more cussing), or your foot gets tangled in the lines and you fall overboard, or you forgot to put the drain plug in, the dog chewed through the aft stay and you are holding up the mast cussing and hollaring for help...
everybody knows that shit doesn't go that smooth the first 20 times that you try it. lol
Stuff does happen! There's just too many moving parts for it not to, usually if I don't take as much time to double-check everything like in this video. But when it does, it's easy enough to cleat the mast off where it is, clear the problem, and continue.
that's the way it is for me EVERYTIME !!!!
No lie... I've used brute force and an extra back to raise mine in the past... Back breaking. Made me size down my boat because of the hassle. Great video!
what was the name of that pulley system that used attacht to the front stay ?
It doesn't have a special name. It's just the main sheet tackle with two fiddle blocks and a cam cleat that normally controls the boom angle. Any 3:1 or 4:1 tackle setup long enough would work such as a boom vang with an extra long control line.
@@stingysailor5677 Thank you been very helpful , IAM trying to pull up my mast pole that is 18 ,1/2 ft. by 3x,4 in. & To pull it up & set into the boot ,& put stays in by yourself is very challenging . So I need
something to help me get it up !!
I don't understand how the mast did not swing or sway side to side, especially with the boat being on the water. My boat was smaller than this with a lighter mast but it did damage to the tabernacle deck mounting, and that was on land.
Hi, Stephan
It does want to swing to the sides a bit but if you hold it centered until the shrouds start to become tight at about 45 degrees, the rest is relatively easy.
@@stingysailor5677 Ok thanks, I think also on my boat deck access, when you were getting to critical angles was difficult, ie the cabin got in the way of things.
I bought a WWP 19 but I secretly wish I had got a cat22. I think I could buy two for what I paid for the potter.
you could sell that p19 and buy the C22 - they hold on to their value pretty well
are you superman, my schock santana mast was 30' and to heavy to raise alone?
Not even close but any longer of a mast and I probably couldn't do it : )
The link to the gin pole video is broken.
Fixed. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Thanks for posting it!@@stingysailor5677
Do you think this could be done with a 29 foot sloop, following the same principle?
In principle, yes, but in reality, probably not due to the weight of the mast and the fact that most sailboats of that size are keel stepped. So you would not only have to raise the mast but also suspend it off the deck until it was vertical and could be lowered through the cabin. All things considered, a crane is your best option.
@@stingysailor5677 Thanks for replying. Your very kind. My mast is deck stepped but I'm sure there is a weight issue. Thanks. You can see my boat on youtube .. "Traveling with Lily 90" Thanks.
You may not realize how close you are to a serious problem doing like this, but you should be aware of it.
When the bottom points of side shrouds are not in line with a pivot of the must - just the case of Catalina and many other boats - the shrouds can hold the mast ONLY when the must is in vertical position, otherwise they are loose. At the same time when you rise the mast by pulling its front stay toward the bow the mast has a tendency to fall aside (it's just a matter of pure geometry), and not being held by idle shrouds it may damage its foot or even root the mast's base out.
Thus, if you are alone, holding the must with your hand may not bet enough (you've been just lucky so far), and explicit special measures must be taken to keep the mast in the boat's longitudinal section all the time.
With all due respect, Yuriy, I understand the geometry and the risks. I've been doing this for years in conditions from mild to wild without a single accident. You are incorrect about the shrouds holding the mast ONLY when it is in the vertical position. The upper shrouds of C-22 begin to tighten when the mast as at approximately 45 degrees and are plenty tight enough to prevent the mast from falling to either side enough to do any damage. You can see this clearly in the video starting at about 3:30. From that point forward, the shrouds and the forestay form a very stable triangle. Regardless, anybody who isn't confident in using this method shouldn't use it and should employ different rigging.
Well, I wasn't that lucky like you and one day I did get the foot of my mast damaged (thanks God, not too much) while operating like you do. That's why I thought my bad experience may be useful to other people; at least they should realize the risk.
And because of that case I made a fixture (kind of removable "wings", appr. 5' each) which guarantees that during rising the mast upper shrouds are not loose at any moment because their low ends being connected to the fixture are in line with the mast's pivot. Frankly speaking the fixture is not ultimately simple but it's not a "rocket science" as well. And the most important thing - the system does work very well leaving no room to mishaps.
Thanks for the clarification, Yuriy. I'm glad you didn't have too much damage. When the wind is blowing too hard, the boat isn't level such as if I'm setting up in a launch area, or the water's too choppy, I use the boom as a gin pole and attach two "baby stays" to the end of the boom and lash the bottom ends to the tops of the middle stanchions, which are almost perfectly in line with the mast pivot point. They help to keep the mast and boom centered for additional safety. You can see these blue lines in this video: ua-cam.com/video/w0Sc1e3MXyA/v-deo.html
Thank you, Stingy Sailor, I saw this your video before and found it useful.
I'm glad that we understand each other so well. Please, have a nice sailing.
What about the boom?
See my separate video on using it as a gin pole here: ua-cam.com/video/l81rwc6-8SM/v-deo.html
No pinns or sprints to drop overboard.
I guess I’m too short and too weak to do it that way. I wound up dropping it on my shoulder. Ouch! Here is how I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years without any injuries - ua-cam.com/video/Si612QhnFPM/v-deo.html
That support post on the stern will one day give way then you will have a mess on your hands.
You missed step 133. You went from step 132 to step 134. Shame on you.
D'oh! You got me there, Wayne.