Best way to lower mast on Cape Dory 25

alambertfl · Post by **alambertfl** » Dec 3rd, '11, 07:49

Hello All,
I am in the process of restoring my 78 CD 25. She is on the hard right now while I am doing fiberglass work and other repairs and upgrades. I need to replace all the running rigging and the thought just occurred to me that I have never done that before. I would really appreciate your recommendations on the best way to lower the mast in order that I may inspect the top of the mast and at the same time, replace missing halyards. I also own another larger sailboat with a keel stepped mast and would normally go up with a boatswains chair. I think I am in a different category with the CD 25 and it appears that unstepping or lowering the mast would be the easier thing to do. I am just seeking the best way and your thoughts would be very helpful. I have previously gotten many good recommendations from this forum and am happy for its' existence. Thank you all in advance for your help!

David van den Burgh · Post by **David van den Burgh** » Dec 3rd, '11, 08:43

Over on the Alberg 30 site there's a method some have used to unstep the A30 mast. Perhaps it would be of some interest to you. Here's the link: Unstepping the Mast. Use the menu on the right side to read through the descriptions.

Good luck.

tartansailor · Post by **tartansailor** » Dec 3rd, '11, 09:26

Bruce Bingham's book: The Sailors Sketchbook; Seven Seas Press; has an excellent article with detail drawings on how to raise and lower your mast single handed.
I have incorporated his system in my regimen, and it works great for me.
Cheap, easy and effective.

Dick

jepomer · Post by **jepomer** » Dec 3rd, '11, 10:46

These two YouTube videos show the lowering and raising of a Catalina 25 mast and then the components fabricated to do the job.

I will be using a similar device for my Cape Dory 25 come spring. For the past two years, I have raised and lowered the mast on my Capri 22 using only lateral guys to limit any sway, main sail sheet blocks moved forward to bow and connecting to the jib and spinnaker halyards, then "hefted" the mast keeping tension. A gin pole would have made that step much easier.

The CD25 mast is too heavy for me to heft by myself. So I will use either an a-frame or a gin pole with lateral supports.

http://youtu.be/r33VCObNroY

http://youtu.be/EsLxujYRsMQ

billc · Post by **billc** » Dec 7th, '11, 17:26

no hinge a fork lift used to lift small keel boats and power boats can do it. tie mast around half way up to fork. lift slightly and walk base forward as you lower. hinged step you you need a frame of some kind of rig or help.

riveredge · Post by **riveredge** » Dec 7th, '11, 22:22

I built an 8' tall boom crutch with a 2"X4" and a 2' wide plywood v-notched top. I clamped it to my stern pulpit and held it in place with a sheet attached halfway up it cleated tightly down to the main sheet tackle on the traveller. I detached the forward shrouds only and loosened the others just enough so the mast would come down. I next detached the forward bolt at the base of the mast leaving the aft one for the mast to hinge on. I then detached the forestay and held the mast up with the jib halyard. I eased the halyard until the mast dropped slowly into the boom crutch. I was aided by a man at the base of the mast taking a little weight and walking back in the cockpit as the mast came down. But I think it will work next time without him. Once the mast is resting in the boom crutch its easy to detach it at the base, walk it forward and lift it out of the boom crutch. It was easier to do it than it is to describe it.

Ben Coombs · Post by **Ben Coombs** » Dec 8th, '11, 20:23

We do it in a similar fashion...
except there is a block and tackle fixed to the bow, and to the jib halyard. the line runs to a cleat on the dock (we raise and lower in the water). This way no one has to work the halyard during the process. The "X" is 2 2x4s bolted together close to one end. They are spread so that the bottom of the x is on the cockpit seats, and against the cabin.

so the mast is lowered while on belay using the block and tackle, and since the x is so close to the base of the mast there is a very short time between the mast being up, the mast being loose and lowering, and resting on a solid surface. Once it is resting on the x, one person holds the mast up a hair while the other moves the x back to the aft end of the cockpit. From there we lower it onto a rolling material feed thingy (a roller that you would use with a table saw) that is lashed to the motor well cover... unhook the base and roll it forward...

I like to have 3 people... 2 would do it, but it's nice to have extra hands. I'm not exactly a good writer, so this may sound more convoluted than it really is!
good luck

alambertfl · Post by **alambertfl** » Dec 8th, '11, 21:04

Thanks to all for your suggestions, ideas, and methods on how to best lower my mast.They all sound good, however, I think I am going to have to just get 3 or 4 guys and manhandle it down this time, as there is presently no running rigging. For some reason there is a line running from the top of the mast that serves no purpose, other, perhaps, than to assist in lowering the mast. I will figure it out. After I have it down and rigged, I will utilize your ideas to create a system that will work for me. As I have said before, I am truly thankful for this board, and all the help and great suggestions I have received relative to this project. So far, I have repaired all the damage to the fiberglass sustained as a result of a hurricane, primed and first coated the hull. I am planning to install a permanent head and will next install the thru hulls necessary for intake and output. The actual installation of the head will come later. I am paying $10.00 per day to keep the boat on the hard in the working yard, so getting the work done necessary to get her back in the water is the priority . Still looking for a bow rail and some stanchions. Suffice it to say I will probably be asking for many more suggestions based upon all of your combined experiences as there is much more to do. Thanks again for everything. Best wishes

riveredge · Post by **riveredge** » Dec 8th, '11, 23:01

3 guys is plenty to manhandle down the CD25 mast. Plywood across the cockpit benches or step stools on the cockpit sole will help.

Maine_Buzzard · Post by **Maine_Buzzard** » Dec 9th, '11, 08:04

Please take a video as you bring it down... You medical insurance company will enjoy watching it.

We had 4 guys and one "supervisor" putting a 26' mast up on a small Bristol in the water. Yes, wet is harder, but I also know from experience that down is much harder than up. The lever forces on the partly lowered mast will overpower you and the bottom will want to kick out as you drop it.

At the very least, take two 16' 2x4s and make an A frame across the chainplates- tie it off forward and aft, and at the chainplates, and run a pulley at the top. Run a loop up to the spreaders to carry the weight and then let it pivot down.

alambertfl · Post by **alambertfl** » Dec 9th, '11, 09:51

I don't think you will have to concern yourself about my insurance or me making a video. I have the boat on a working yard on the hard and not in the water. It was a rigging foreman who suggested manhandling the mast. However, if that isn't the final decision, they are well equipped with lifting equipment. Further, the mast base is hinge pinned on each side allowing it to be lowered toward the bow or stern, so I think the possibility of a kickout is rather remote. However, since you seem to have the greatest knowledge and experience, perhaps you may want to come to Florida and supervise the operation. You need to be here quickly though as it is being lowered today. Thank you for your input.

riveredge · Post by **riveredge** » Dec 9th, '11, 10:21

Two people raised the mast on my CD25 last Spring. It was the guy I bought the boat from and his father. They did it as a courtesy to me and I appreciated it and saw how easily it could be done. The boat was in the water. The mast went right up with no problems. Two people lowered the mast this fall. That was me and a friend of mine using the boom crutch I built. The boat was on the hard. The mast came down easily and nestled in the boom crutch just as leverage might have become an issue. I was looking at 27's and 28's before "settling" for my CD25 but I've found that ease of use is one of the advantages of the CD25 that owners of bigger, fatter boats may not appreciate.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Dec 9th, '11, 16:45

Maine_Buzzard wrote: The lever forces on the partly lowered mast will overpower you and the bottom will kick out as you drop it.

Fortunately, the CD25 has a hinged plate, so the bottom will only kick out if the hinge breaks or the screws break that hold the foot on the mast, which is what happened to one gentleman on the board. No damage, no injury, though.

Y'all have a great holiday season.

Terry

Maine_Buzzard · Post by **Maine_Buzzard** » Dec 9th, '11, 22:07

Hey, I was unaware of the tabernacle... OK much easier and not likely to move around. And an A frame is useless here too.

I'd have to bring my Admiral's hat and blue blazer if I came down to assist. Would there be room for my lawn chair in the parking lot?

<a href="http://s793.photobucket.com/albums/yy21 ... dmiral.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy21 ... dmiral.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

(Does anyone else miss Wayward Wind? Even just a bit?)

Hope you're rigged and back up pronto.

billc · Post by **billc** » Dec 11th, '11, 19:32

the top plate of my hinge bolts to a piece that slips a little ways up in the mast. that thing on my mast has a tang that prevents the mast from rotating all that way down to the deck (or stern pulpit). this was discovered while attempting to lower the mast causing a last minute shift to plan B. also a cd 25 mast is not that light, if it goes off center look out. a lot of caution is prudent.

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Best way to lower mast on Cape Dory 25

Best way to lower mast on Cape Dory 25

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Best Way to Lower the Mast on a Cape Dory 25

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