Raising the mast made easy – no hinged mast step required

[Paul White]

If you have difficulty raising the mast then try this method from a Japanese Weta sailor
No hinged mast step required!
Start at the beginning to see the whole rigging process.

 

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[Pommie]

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Greetings from England! Like Mikko I too just bought a used Weta and haven’t sailed it at all yet.

Watching that video I was surprised to see they guy standing on the hull with it on the trailer. Would that not risk damaging the boat?

Best wishes

John
831

[Paul White]

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Hi John

In fact his Weta is on the trolley – not the trailer.

However, he’s light (probably no more than 70Kg) and has placed his feet near the edge of the cockpit which is a reinforced area without putting an impact load on it. In fact that whole area has to be strong to be able to take the stress from the mast – you’ll notice the bulkhead inside the hatch which provides support for the mast. Just don’t jump on the flat sections.

There haven’t been any reports of cracks from standing on the deck but heavier sailors who slide down the tramp when tacking and then stop themselves by landing a foot hard on the cockpit edge, have caused cracks to appear from repeated hard impacts.

Newer boats (>1000) have a raised rib running along the foredeck which provides more strength for the deck if you need to walk forward while on the water to retie the gennaker or hoist/drop a sail (it’s easier to hoist/drop if you sit on the foredeck facing the mast).

Hope this helps

[Paul White]

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Unfortunately the hinged mast base is out of production due to problems with quality.

You could try anchoring or tying up to the dock and then lowering the sails and drop the mast using an extra long forestay lashing fed back to the cockpit, and lowering the sails. Then reverse the process the other side of the bridge.

These links may help

Tow Loop, Anchor and Drogue for dropping mainsail on the water

Raising the mast made easy – no hinged mast step required

Lifting the Weta mast easily

Docks and cranes

Hope this helps

Paul

[Mikko Laakso]

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Greetings from Finland! I just bought a used Weta and haven’t sailed it at all yet. My other previous sailing experience is also from decades ago.

The boat is now in my garage and waiting for spring. In winter, there would be time to do all kinds of renovations. The inspection hatches of the both amas require attention at least, as does the mast track. Anyways, a hinged mast base caught my eye and I was left wondering if it could be useful to me.

Our summer cottage is located by the lake. There is a bridge dividing the lake nearby, with a free underpass height of about 3 meters. If I could drop the mast, paddle under the bridge, and raise it again while in the water, my sailing area would be multiplied.

There are lightweight docks on both sides of the bridge, which I can use freely, but no sandy beach or anything else where I could land.

What do you think, would a hinged mast base be good for this purpose, or is it mostly only useful for storing the boat? It might also be a big task to find a seller who could deliver one here.

[Author]

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