Trailer winch to raise the mast

Storm Connors (stormc@iname.com)
Wed, 27 Jan 1999 13:44:55 -0800


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
And Judy sez-We're getting a galvanized Caulkins CN1618 with full length
sides guides,
tongue jack, swing tongue, and tall bow stop (so we can use the trailer
winch
for raising the mast like Jerry B does.)
IMHO, using the trailer winch for raising the mast would create more
problems than it would solve because it would take too much time. Mast
raising's danger period seems to be while the mast is at 30-60 degrees
of vertical and side to side motion is accentuated by the pulling force
being aft of the pivot point. If I have to raise the mast myself, I use
a small block and tackle to the jibsheet so I can lift the mast as fast
as I can while pulling in the line. If I have assistance, they can pull
a line from the front of the boat while I lift.

I suppose you could solve the problem with temporary stays whose base is
in line with the mast pivot point, but why introduce all this complexity
to solve a nonexistent problem?