1 man mast raising system
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 12:39 pm
Early this summer I decided to rig my TMI in a way similar to the C22's, using the old Chrysler bridle system. Bill was kind enough to give me the dimensions to the recommended toe rail slots for the Bridles. And, over and over I watched Scott's sequence of photos as he raised his.
My big project this summer was replacing the cockpit well (sole) and repainting the cockpit, so the mast raising system was something going in and out of my head. But I finally got it built and it was well worth my while.
I took the measurements I'd been given and mounted truck bed eyes, a bit in from the toe rail because TMI has none. They turned out to be pretty slick because when not being used they can be threaded out of the bases and replaced with a stainless bolt with rubber o ring to seal out the water. Installed as such, the whole setup is then almost flush with the deck and non-obstructive.
I raise and lowered 3 times before the glitches were worked out, one of them being that my bridle wires must go inboard of the shrouds. Another one was taking the knot out of the two bridle rings. Chrysler recommended tying knots at each point, but I found making that a slip point for the line really improved things, allowing the bridle ring to continually adjust itself as the mast went up. The third was that I learned that raising the rings higher than the mast hinge point greatly aided the side-to-side stability.
I could not believe how well it works! On Saturday afternoon my brother and I took her down to the river for a first sail in 5 years. There were easily 35 mph gusts, we were angled to the wind, but still, he just watched and I just cranked.
That was a good note to end my sailing career on, as earlier this year I had a heart attack and it is now too much for me. Putting her up for sale in a week or so, happy that the new owner will enjoy the ease of mast raising!
Video of first time, I think: https://youtu.be/YwUss85Zz6Q
You may have to paste it in the browser.
My big project this summer was replacing the cockpit well (sole) and repainting the cockpit, so the mast raising system was something going in and out of my head. But I finally got it built and it was well worth my while.
I took the measurements I'd been given and mounted truck bed eyes, a bit in from the toe rail because TMI has none. They turned out to be pretty slick because when not being used they can be threaded out of the bases and replaced with a stainless bolt with rubber o ring to seal out the water. Installed as such, the whole setup is then almost flush with the deck and non-obstructive.
I raise and lowered 3 times before the glitches were worked out, one of them being that my bridle wires must go inboard of the shrouds. Another one was taking the knot out of the two bridle rings. Chrysler recommended tying knots at each point, but I found making that a slip point for the line really improved things, allowing the bridle ring to continually adjust itself as the mast went up. The third was that I learned that raising the rings higher than the mast hinge point greatly aided the side-to-side stability.
I could not believe how well it works! On Saturday afternoon my brother and I took her down to the river for a first sail in 5 years. There were easily 35 mph gusts, we were angled to the wind, but still, he just watched and I just cranked.
That was a good note to end my sailing career on, as earlier this year I had a heart attack and it is now too much for me. Putting her up for sale in a week or so, happy that the new owner will enjoy the ease of mast raising!
Video of first time, I think: https://youtu.be/YwUss85Zz6Q
You may have to paste it in the browser.