by mark48 on Sun Jul 19, 2020 3:23 pm
Greetings,
I'm having trouble raising my PocketShip mast singlehandedly. Puffin is not rigged for a spinnaker (heaven forbid!), but part of my problem is a snagging tangle of lines and gaff as I try to raise the mast. I stand in the footwell, press down on the base of the mast while hauling on the jib halyard, but inevitably something is fouled aft causing me to lower my partially-raised mast, move aft to sort things out...only to repeat the dance with my next attempt. I'm not looking for a Le Mans start in my sailing, but I'd prefer to get my walking exercise on level ground.
The suggestions on this thread are helpful but don't get the the root of my problem. Have other PS sailors developed some knack for stowing the various lines such that raising the mast is less likely to result in fouling lines and gaff? One partial answer I saw in a recent post is to extend my gaff in length such that when the sail is lowered, the trailing end of that spar is supported by the boom gallows rather than being allowed to snag the boom gallows or the mainsheet bridle as I raise the mast. But I'm sure other PS builders / sailors have additional thoughts and I welcome them.
Puffin has rigged with jiffy-reefing lines as is PS #1. Otherwise, the rigging is conventional.
Thanks for your thoughts, and I hope you're all well.
Mark
Puffin