Yes, the mast CAN be stepped and un-stepped by one person. After rigging it the first time and getting the shrouds and stays properly tuned, the mast can then be un stepped and then stepped again by one person in a matter of a few minutes. The trick is to only disconnect the two forward lower shrouds and the forestay. Do not disconnect the upper shrouds or aft lower shrouds or the backstay.

One Piece Mast Step Post

I built my current mast stepping post out of 2 x 4 lumber. The main post is an 8 foot length of 2 x 4 (or use a 10 foot length for a little more height). Add two short pieces of 2 x 4 to the top end for more thickness. Mount two plates of aluminum to the outer sides of the top end. Mount a bow roller on a bolt between the two aluminum plates. Mount pintles to the bottom of the 2 x 4. Space the pintles at 12" (measure your boat to make sure this distance is correct). Then mount a strip of 3/8" plywood between the pintles. This plywood strip will rest against the transom and keep the bow roller lined up fore and aft. Now add two lengths of line to the top of the post. These lines can be tied around the aluminum plates or any way you want to attach them. They will be used to steady the post. When the post is in place, tie the other ends to something forward on the boat. I tie mine to cleats near the jib winches.

I used to use a two piece mast up. The bottom piece would act as a support for the mast while stowed for trailering. I don't do that any more. I feel that doing it that way was putting too much shock load on the rudder gudgeons while driving down the road. Loose rudder gudgeons is a common source of leaks in many C22s. I have stern rails on my boat. I secure the mast to the port side stern rail. If you don't have stern rails. Make another support just for trailering. But don't mount it on the gudgeons. Mount it inside the cockpit. You can secure it to the traveler track.

What I do to lower the mast is to:

1. Place the bottom two crib boards in place in the companion way. You can use the middle board as a step from the cabin top to the cockpit.
2. Remove the rudder and disconnect all electrical and antenna connections to the mast.
3. Attach the mast up support post to the rudder gudgeons and secure its 2 tie down lines.
4. Disconnect the forward lower shrouds.
5. Attach one end of the boom vang or main sheet to the bow chain plate (I use the main sheet because it has a longer line).
6. If the boom vang sheet does not reach to the stern, tie more line to it to reach to the stern. Make certain you have enough line to sheet out far enough to lower the mast and still have plenty in the cockpit.
7. Connect the other end of boom vang or main sheet to the jib halyard.
8. Secure the other end of the jib halyard to a mast cleat.
9. Disconnect the forestay.
10. Start the mast moving down by pushing it toward the stern.
11. Slowly lower the mast by sheeting out the boom vang or main sheet (the upper shrouds will keep the mast fairly well centered at first).
12. You can pull on the sheet to cleat it off if you need to stop lowering so you can free up something. Bur you will have to go forward to the bow to un cleat it to start sheeting out again.
13. When the mast is about 30° away from fully up, stop and check the shrouds. Make sure they are not fouling and that the turnbickles are free to pivot.
14. When the mast reaches a height where you can reach it from the cockpit, step down to the cockpit. I use the crib boards as an intermediate step from the cabin top to the cockpit.
15. Continue sheeting out as you walk to the stern.
16. With one hand supporting the mast, ease the sheet while setting the mast into it's support at the stern.
    IMPORTANT!!! Do not grab the mast so low that you
    cause the mast's balance to lift on the tabernacle!
    ALSO!!! As the mast comes closer to the mast up post, sheet out VERY slowly.
    A couple inches of sheet will move the mast quite a ways at this angle.
17. After the mast is down, go to the base of the mast and disconnect it from the deck.
18. Then move the base end of the mast to the bow pulpit. Wrap a temporary line around it and the pulpit.
19. Lower the top end of the mast to your trailering support.
20. Now just secure the mast and all the loose shrouds until they are suitable for travel.

To step the mast now, I:

1. Set the mast in the step and on the mast post at the stern.
2. Lay out the shrouds so that they will not hang up on anything as the mast goes up.
3. Attach the main sheet to the jib halyard and the bow plate.
4. Trail the boom vang sheet back to the cockpit.
5. With the boom vang sheet in hand, lift the mast as high as you can from as far aft as possible.
   IMPORTANT!!! Do not grab the mast so low that you
   cause the mast's balance to lift on the tabernacle!
6. Raise the mast the rest of the way with the boom vang.
7. Secure the forestay and the forward lower shrouds.
8. Reconnect electrical connections to the mast.

Back to General
Back to Table of Contents
Back to Main Page