Posted by billpeggyweber (billpeggyweber@…>)
I just bought a freedom 21. The mast is not hinged and I need some
ideas on lowering the mast by myself
Posted by Charles Rush Arasim (crarasim@…>)
Bill,
I’ve gotten an old aluminim mast about 20ft long that is light
enough for me to raise alone. I think it’s from an old Capri 14.2.
I’ve set shrouds/forestay from the top with the shrouds hooked to the
base of the stantions in line with the front of the deck house. The
forstay is part rope that I pass through the base of the pulpit at
the bow and run it back through the fairleads to one of the winches
and set the whole rig tight. I set the base of the temporary mast (we
call them ginpoles) right in front of the mast deck pass-through on a
piece of thick rubber, this keeps it from moving around or doing
damage to the deck. I have a winch mounted on and about two feet from
the bottom of the ginpole with raising/lowering rope running to a
turning block at the top of the ginpole and back down to the mast. I
haven’t set and lowered the mast alone with this rig but I’m sure I
could. Wouldn’t want to do it with much wind, the mast really gets
pushed around in the wind and I’ve had to run a control line to it at
times even when I’ve had help.
Hope this helps…I can take some photos the next time I use it
(couple months) and send them to you if you like…
Charlie A
F-21 #104
RGSC (Rio Grande Sailing Club)