Single person mast raising

Last year I used a manual crank winch that I mounted to a short section of 1 1/2" diameter thinwall pipe to raise/lower my mast. One end of the pipe would clip onto the angle on the front of the boat where the pulpit line attach. The cable from the winch would then attach to my front stay cable. The contraption would easily raise or lower the mast but the issue I would run into was that I needed an extra person to steady the mast so it wouldn't tip side to side.
  I'd be interested to see what others have come up with as far as single hand mast raising and lowering.  I've looked on YouTube and there's no shortage of different methods there but no Clipper Marine input, although I'm sure it differs little from other makes.
terry s

We have on the mast two eye straps.  Also, on the deck there two U bolts for tying on dock bumpers. I put a rope on each side going from the eye strap to the deck mounted u bolts. The ropes act like mini stays and keep the mast straight.

Do a search for the "follow the mast" thread.  There is a lot there and a link to a short video of my A frame pulling up the mast.  Best thing about the A frame is that it controls the side to side of the mast.

Terry,
I have the 21 footer and built and use an A frame arrangement to raise the mast. It works good and I just used standard stuff found at a box store. I tie it to one of the stations and hold it upright with ropes for and aft.
I have pictures if you would like drop me a note. Yours of course would be different dimensions for the 26.
Russ  retired03@cableone.net

A tiny bit off the subject, but my wife put ours up by hand, and we find it easier to do it in the water, rather than on land.  Why?  Well, if you fall off, the water is softer than concrete, you are closer to the water, and the docks make it easier to get in and out of the boat.

Also, make sure you put a coin under the mast (s).  That is for a good season.

Safer or easier? I find the stability of land makes it easier. One big boat wake could make an on-the-water mast raising very dangerous.

I guess it depends where you are stepping your mast and how much traffic is on the water there.

I agree about the coin.

I would not want to do that on a busy shipping lane.  lol

This also lets you have a vantage point, on the docks, for extra help, up where the work is going on.

Maybe being on a sleepy lake has advantages?

One trick is bungee cords from the mast where it intersects with the boom, other ends to the chainplates.


Another trick is a 4 x 4 across from port to starboard, at the mast, tied to the chainplates.  This gives you a similar pivot point so your bungee cords, do not tighten up, as the mast goes up.   They stay tight.



Many people raise and lower from the stern, we always raise and lower from the bow.   We generally put the ketch mast up first, but we have done it both ways.



When putting up a mast, your boom, is your friend, when working alone. 

This guy, working alone, raises the mast, all by himself, easily.


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJyewB13AhY

Our sailboats are a half century old.  Make sure all attachment points, all rigging is adequate for the job.  Lets all be safe.

If your rigging is 10 years old, make sure it is still up for one year more of sailing.  If your chainplates are original, ponder replacing them   Metal fatigues after a time, and should / could need to be replaced.