Re: Potter 19' Mast Raising

Jim Tietjen (jtietjen@bellsouth.net)
Sun, 27 Dec 1998 16:07:18 -0600


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm 5'8" and have no trouble stepping my mast by myself. Standing in the
cockpit of my P19, I put it on my left shoulder and then step onto the
seats, left foot port - right foot starboard. From there I find the angle
easier to lift the mast straight up over my head as I put my right foot on
the companionway ledge and my left foot on the corner of the sink. The mini
stays that came with the mast raising system from IM (which I only used once
before I decided it was too cumbersome) really play an important role in
keeping the mast aligned with the centerline of the boat.

I have the forward step plate pin pre-positioned on the deck so that when
the mast enters the plate, I can hold it with one hand and pin it with the
other. One word of caution though; it has to be done in one continuous
motion. Any hesitation during the procedure results in a quick reversal of
the event and that old mast crutch on the transom presents a pretty small
target.

In the past 20 launchings, I have 18 successful single-handed mast
steppings. One time I looped a shroud around the tail light of the
trailer - didn't get it up very far. Second botched attempt one of the mini
shrouds caught under the lip of the hatch cover on the way up.

Jim Tietjen
P19 #1015
Huntsville, AL