RE: stepping mast on the water

Eric Johnson (ej@tx3.com)
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 09:26:12 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> It has been rumored that Eric Johnson said:
> >
> > Just for kicks I tried it on the water once a year or two ago,
> and I liked
> > it so much I don't think I've ever stepped it any other way
> since, as long
> > as I had a decent dock and calm seas. Especially if you have a
> slip, you can
> > walk around and have someone hold a safety line from the dock,
> etc. It works
> > for me.
>
> Dropping a cotter ring overboard is a drag on the water. In a parking lot,
> I just call for a kid to recover it for me. But then, I've switched to
> captive-pin shackles so I don't have to deal with rings anymore.

point well taken :) But I use a little quick release pin, attached with a
lanyard, for the forestay (after dropping one of those $10 bastards
overboard... I think a scuba diver could reel in a fortune hanging around
the bottom of a marina). Are you one of the heathens who removes his shrouds
for trailering? :)

> Another reason we always rig on land is that it's an easy matter to stow
> the mast rasising gear and trailering crutch pole in the van.

Another good point. I just have the trailering crutch, and brute-force the
mast up.

> But I'm hoping to reduce my rigging time to zero for most trips this year.
> I should hear from the marina next week on dry slip availibility.

You'd be surprised how your rigging time doesn't really go to zero. You
still have to:
park the car
find a dolly if you need it.
find your @!#% marina keys
walk down to the boat
run back to the car to get the boat keys
hank on the jib (though a jib cover will help here)
take off the mainsail cover or attach the main
adjust the boom height (since at least my mainsail cover doesn't work with
the boom in any reasonable sailing position - hence my use of a clamcleat
gooseneck downhaul)
wonder where all the spiders came from
attach the rudder (I don't like to leave dinged-up wood soaking in the
water)
chat with the guy varnishing his hand rails
lower the daggerboard
curse at the goose crap on your deck
detach shore power (that you use for running a fan and air dryer)
stow everything
admire the boat with the new paintjob
run the dolly back to the gate if you used one
etc...

Still, it is quicker than trailering, and I will be getting a slip this year
again myself.