Mast steps for a CD 31? Thoughts?

[jen1722terry]

Hey members!

While we're sitting up here in Nova Scotia waiting for the completion of our tranny oil cooler, we're starting to plan the upgrades/repairs for the long cruises we have planned over the next few years.

We're considering the installation of mast steps. We don't yet know much about them, so we're wondering if any members have installed them on a boat around our size.

1. Are they worth the time and money? Pros? Drawbacks?

2. Are they difficult to install? We did hear that care must be taken in drilling the mast and finishing the holes.

3. We do note that next year's trip will entail lowering the mast to get though the NY state canals on the way up to Canada. Would mast steps complicate this?

All thoughts appreciated.

[Jim Walsh]

1) It would be difficult to declare them superfluous but I never really put them to good use. I installed a set on a previous boat and lived with them for about 16 years. They were the fixed variety. The folding type hadn't been invented yet. Our relatively short sailing season and our generally robust rigging tends to lessen the opportunities for use as opposed to someone on an around the world cruise. The biggest drawback was a halyard being blown against them and the difficulty of freeing it due to friction and wind pressure.

2) Mine were held by four pan head machine screws. The locations on the mast were marked with a punch, drilled, and tapped. The machine screws were used with lock washers and tightened carefully. Not one ever needed re-tightening or ever worked out. (Today I'd use a bit of thread-lock.)

3) My yard never had any issue raising or lowering the mast. Most use a choker strap which catches under the spreaders. They might have to do a little coaxing due to the presence of mast steps.

Surprisingly I only saw a couple boats in Bermuda with mast steps. I expected to see more. I saw a few boats inspecting their rigs before the run to the Azores. They all used bosun's chairs, but then again they all had crews and were not singlehanders. I have a six part tackle to haul myself aloft, if needed. I would try my damnedest to find a fellow cruiser (or two) to haul me up in my bosun's chair if need be. I would no longer be able to climb mast steps, if I had them, due to injuries sustained in an auto accident.

[jen1722terry]

Thanks again for the thoughtful comments, Jim.

I guess the reality is that, even with steps, I'd want to wear a harness to clip onto the steps, or be tethered to a halyard in case I fall. With all that, might as well use a bosun's chair.

The observation in the Bermuda fleet was indeed telling. If steps were such a great idea, these folks would most likely have them.

I do have a crew (Jenn) who can crank winches with the best of them, so we'll probably just stay with the bosun's chair. I'll plan to go up and do a careful inspection/lubrication of the sheaves in the truck and all tangs, replace the spreader boots, etc. in prep for next spring's start of the DownEast Loop. If you're home when we come down the NE coast next July, we may try to meet you and see your great 31, if you're not off sailing to Australia or whatever.

We had a large (70') fiberglass schooner show up in our little harbor here in Nova Scotia two days ago. An Aussie couple that have been out for 5 years (60,000 miles). They had no steps on their masts either. They also sail without a windvane, just using a primary and backup auto pilot. No paper charts, either, just 5 separate systems: a plotter, two dedicated laptops always charged, a GPS and an iPad. Hope they don't take a major lightening strike. Great people.

Thanks again for taking the time for the thoughts. Enjoy the rest of your sailing season.

Terry

[Jim Walsh]

We had a large (70') fiberglass schooner show up in our little harbor here in Nova Scotia two days ago. An Aussie couple that have been out for 5 years (60,000 miles). They had no steps on their masts either. They also sail without a windvane, just using a primary and backup auto pilot. No paper charts, either, just 5 separate systems: a plotter, two dedicated laptops always charged, a GPS and an iPad. Hope they don't take a major lightening strike.

I'm amazed they would have no paper charts. I had chart kits from Florida to Nova Scotia (albeit not all the latest version) in case I had to make an unplanned landfall during my Bermuda trip. I also had layers of backup electronic navigational instruments. My primary is my Raymarine C80 chartplotter, a Bad Elf GPS puck which Bluetooths to my iPad which is loaded with Navionics charts (instant chartplotter) the bad Elf is independent so I can just use it for my position and plot it on a paper chart. I also have a Horizon VHF with AIS and GPS (built in antenna so it's independent of the chartplotter) which would additionally allow me to plot my position on a paper chart. I have a sextant and with luck might be able to plot my position lastly, I kept a running fix on my passage chart so I always had my precise position within a few hours. Having layers of navigational backup is very reassuring offshore. Seeing Bermuda pop up on the horizon after eight days at sea covering several hundred miles is special. Witnessing it from the deck of your Cape Dory is exceptional.

[Steve Laume]

I sometimes wish Raven had mast steps. That being said I have never felt they were worth the trade off in windage, weight and clutter on a 30 foot boat. I can and have free climbed to the spreaders on a number of occasions. This ability has helped me deal with a number of items in that location. Getting to the top is another matter.

I did install two folding mast steps about 4 feet down from the mast head. These come in very handy when working at the mast head. It is really difficult to do when using a bosuns chair or climbing harness. The steps in that location allow you to stand and take a strap around the mast to hold you in place while you work. You then have solid footing at a comfortable height, where you will not swing around and both hands are free to work, Steve.

[jen1722terry]

I like that idea, Steve. It would be a good compromise and put the two steps where they really help.

Now I'll have to research folding steps.

Happy sailing!

Terry

[hilbert]

This is an interesting mast step if one is concerned about windage & weight

http://www.capehorn.com/sections/Pages/Mast_Steps1.htm

For something more permanent, these are incredibly light and have a low wind profile

http://www.swi-tec.us/index.php?route=p ... duct_id=19

[jen1722terry]

Thanks for the lead, Hilbert.

Not sure if I want to have open holes in the mast introducing more water, but the low-windage permanent nt steps look interesting.

Much to consider between now and the next time I go up the mast

terry

[hilbert]

I purchased the SWI-TEC maststeps second hand on eBay. I haven't gotten around to installing them yet and I still need to purchase rivets.
I believe that German V4A steel belongs to the 316L family. They really are light weight and I like that ones foot can not slide out to the side.
While they are well designed for their function, extra care will probably be required when stepping and un-stepping the mast to keep from bending them.

As you say, there is much to consider and there are a lot of options.

[Jim Walsh]

Just occurred to me. I had mast steps installed a couple inches above the spreaders on both sides to ensure I never stepped on the spreaders by mistake, in addition to the two 48" from the masthead to make masthead work simple.

[jen1722terry]

I like that idea, Jim. So we'd only need two pairs.

I also appreciate Hilbert's comment on stepping the mast. If we do the Down East loop as planned over the next to summers, the mast will be handled maybe 6 times, so steps that are folding may be a benefit to avoid damage from the crane or truck.

And Jim, we forgot to ask you to bring back a triangle for us from Bermuda.

Cheers!

Jenn and Terry