Craig

Nice job. Have fun at the launch.

Thanks for the photos Jake. My problem is the firsrt 60 degrees of lift. Once I get to where you are using your line mine goes right into place. The dead weight on mine is a bit more. That and the sway problem. Once up it is easy to pin mine. Love that garage. You have your fire truck in there don't you???

Thanks Jake. Do you steady the mast by hand as you raise it with the halyard ?

Thanks. I am having trouble visualizing this.

Jake do you mean 45 degrees? What keeps the mast in alignment with the hinge? My hinge is very strong only when it is closed and cross bolted. Until then very much side play will destroy the tenon.

I have been reading the odd post here and there regarding different methods of raising our masts. My mast is birds mouth and weighs mush less that the 4x4 variety. It is still heavy and I ain't getting any younger. Plus, I want to play with the topsail and cutter ideas so the mast will get longer and heavier. I have been lifting the mast while standing on the main hatch, then walking it up hand over hand till I could get the lock pin in. This works OK if the boat is level but it is a bear if the nose is up by lust a few degrees. What are the options for easier raising? How does the gin pole method work? I would sure appreciate your thoughts.

I am seriously thinking about a topsail and a cutter conversion. There is a Bolxi Schooner down here with more ropes than me... And we can't have that now can we???

FGCI's 1:1 and 2:1 works just fine. I have use over 30 gallons of it. Good customer service also.

Ken, some time back some of us sent measurements from our boats to Paul. He was going to do the design work for larger sails such as those you mention. Shortly after the submissions he became involved with his move to Florida. To date I don't know the status of his project, however, you might give him a shout. He would most likely be the one with the best answer for you.

Thanks Berry. I have been thinking about this and you have saved me much research. I will file this for later use.

Easy for you to say Phil! It is almost the middle of April and I haven't touched mine. I too have delam problems on the stem near the bob stay mount. The chain pulls up and cracks the glass I think and allows water in under the glass. Every year I have to fix rail dings from the barnacled pilings down here and also the rain cap for the compression post. I wanted to cutter rig this year but it isn't going to happen. If you have the $$ ya got no time. If you have time the money goes somewhere else it seems. At least it is spring!!!! At least here.......

I just don't know about hanging around with you OLD guys. For Gods's sake you are falling apart and I could catch it! I hope you are all feeling better. It is getting warmer. 52 degrees here today Ed! I really liked you snow picture witht he red barn. Nice to see, just keep it up there. I worked all last week in Valdosta and it was nice. Where did the snow come from?

It can be done, however, the cost if the equipment is very high. It is all commercial stuff. Materials hazard rule also apply when you get into that depth.

You are right Pat. What diffrence does it make? The Grand doesn't breakup till May any way!!! My in-laws over in Muskegon report thay haven't been out of the house in a week. Too old to keep up with the snow and the plow plug at the end of the drive.

Aha yes, the obligatory blood sacrifice. Now it will begin to go better. She has observed your commitment to her and will now cooperate. Happy building.

Good luck my friend. God be with you.

I would say follow the first rule of writing or speaking. Tailor it for the audience. It is rare the speach or book with universal appeal.

Compensate for excessive power by not turning the handle too far right. There is no compensation for underpower when you really need it. Look at this as a safety issue and it will help your decision making I think.

Bill, My wheel came rom the Captian's Locker back east somewhere. Do a search on that name. The wheel has a brass hub with a slot for a woodruff (Sp) key and was assembled with screws and plugs. I gave it two coats of spar urathane the before mounting and recoat as needed each spring. (3-4 coats as time permits) The $52 dollar wheel is holding up very well and I highly recommend them. My boat sits in the driveway down here and the railn and wind tend to blow under the ends of the tarp dampening everything. THis will be the fourth year and so far so good.

That is how I did mine Jake. I used another of those galvanized screw eyes, I forget what they are called, and ran a bolt in from the top. I then lashed the sail as indicated on the Gaff Rig Pages. I made the top of the sail taught across the gaff. The eye works well as a flag halyard attachment too. That serves double duty as a gaff downhaul if needed. Some times they just don't want to fall very fast. These rigs are very light and just a bit of wind can keep the gaff from falling free. There seems to be more drag in the running rigging than weight of the gaff. My main is peaked higher than the norm. That goes with the loose foot cut to give more sail area. It does want to jam the jaws on occasion and you have to get her started falling unless you ease the main halyard a bit, then she will drop like a rock! You have to experience that the first time. All to once the whole things is coming down right on top of you. Always hold both halyards and control the fall. Also take a reef on the topping lift to keep the boom off the rails or your passenger

Half the fun of these is playing with them after they are built. Enjoy!

Hi Jo, The crane is the SS fitting around the mast-head sticking out ~ 3 or 4 inches behind the mast surface. (members.cox.net/bb343/index for photos) The block is attached to it with a short piece of chain. This allows a straight pull up the mast. If the block is on a pendant or directly attached to the eyelet in the mast the halyard forces the jaws forward into the mast when it is raised. This arrangement also impedes the gaff falling free. There are some photos and drawings of these structures in Frank's Graff Rig section. There is any number of ways to make a crane. I spent a fortune on the SS fittings I designed, and most will not need them, however down here even the air is corrosive with salt. My mast-head is design height from the boom, however, the whole rig was raised 18" for cockpit clearance. (The Mate wants a bimini and I was tired of getting hit by the boom.) Does this help?

This photo shows the main attachment eye under the jaws.. Ant the as yet unfilled hole. [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

Jake asked about some photos of my Gaff halyard bridle a while back. I have found my Vac main sail handles better with a 3.5" extended crane, single block, and a bridle to attach the halyard to the jaws. The as-designed eye cut into the mast when fully peaked up as did an eyelet set well back from the initial position (see bolt and hole aft in the photos) The new bridle ( yes, I know the prototype is a bit rough and the holes are not filled yet) is the answer to my mast chafe problems and works very smoothly. The prototype worked so well I used it all season. Note the old boot recycling as mast leathers.... [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

And the T-shirt still fits... Hope you are feeling better.