Stepping the mast on a Typhoon

[casampson]

Hi Everyone -- Launched my Typhoon yesterday for the first time. Three of us stepped the mast with no real problems, but it made me nervous all the same. First we secured the backstay. Second, two of us hoisted the mast up by hand as high as we could. Third, the man in the bow raised her the rest of the way with the forestay. We secured the forestay and then the shrouds. It worked, but I was nervous that the mast would fall to port or starboard. In reading old posts, I get the impression that the shrouds should be secured first, and then the mast raised. Would this be the right way to do it?

Thanks.

Chris Sampson
Marion, MA

[Oswego John]

I hook up loosely at least one shroud on each side.

Good luck,

O J

[ghooper]

Chris, by attaching the shrounds loosely and taking your jib halyard and securing it forward of the boat, you can easily step the mast by yourself...if on land. If the boat is in the water, you might a second person to get on the dock to help with the forward pull.

[NateHanson]

Yes, secure the cap shrouds and the back stay (if stepping from the stern).

I forget if the typhoon has fore and aft lowers. If so, you can hook up the aft lowers too. Since the mast is stepped on the coachroof, above the chainplates, the shrouds will be fairly slack until the mast is nearly vertical, but they'll keep it from getting majorly off track to one side or the other, especially near the end of the operation when steadying the mast is trickiest.

Nate

[Skeep]

Don't be nervous, simple and slow, and it raises up easily. Keep an eye on the turnbuckles that you do not bend the t-bolts. It helps to keep physically fit in the upper body as doing this solo will test your strength for a few moments, but only a few. The rest is easy.

[Joe M]

Skeep makes a good point about bending the turn buckle T-bolds when raising your mast. Here's a tip:

Slide a foot long piece of slit 1 inch foam pipe insulation over the turn buckle and t-bolds during the mast steping. It will keep the turnbuckle and t-bolts straight, preventing kinking and bending of the t-bolt. Once up, remove the insulation.

Joe

[Skeep]

Joe, that's brilliant. I never thought of that trick! I thought everyone just jiggled and jiggled while holding the mast and muttering gentle obscenities until they flipped just right and then up!