Bob Astrove

Thanks to Ed Ferrier for helping me think some of this through

I made units for two different boats. It all still needs a good testing, so far it worked (kind of) once in a row

Specifications:

Built and included photos of 2 units, with mods to accomodate each of the two boats
Cost - approximately $30, mostly for the 1/16 in. plastic sides (Garolite). Wood was all scrap, the rest I bought on-line from McMaster-Carr.
Weight - Under 2 lbs
No modifications of the boat required. Unit is used and removed.
Portabiliy - almost fits in a shoe box
Portabiliy - Ability to fit any Lightning? Failed on this objective. But the customization for any specific boat was easy. The simple one took under 3 hours to construct. The distance from side to side can be adjustable by adjusting the nuts. But the under the deck differences on boats from different builders required some different shapes.
Speed of setup - Under 10 seconds to insert into mast partners, or to remove after the mast is stepped.
Solo Operation - TBD. Used it once so far, Did have a person helping, and he helped hold mast butt into the hinge. As shown in the photo's I have made a mod to better hold the mast butt of my wood mast in place. The other unit shown uses a simplified approach, just notching the mast butt.
Safety - Yes, felt pretty under control once I got used to using it. I did make a set Especially when I used the shroud extenders to stabalize.
Simplicity of Use - Lay mast on deck, climb into boat, insert mast butt into hinged bracket and walk up. When vertical, lift the mast up about an inch and drop it through the hole into the mast step.

Unit for #7603 (N&H) - Oval Alum. Mast

Also made a unit for #7603, with its narrow mast partners and aluminum mast. Even Simpler. Put notch in the mast butt plug that goes inside the aluminum masts (shown while removed from mast for purposes of the the photo. The notch fits right over the 5/16 in. bolt that is part of the structure of the unit. This is to act like a hinge as the mast is rotated upward.

Seeing that boats from different builders are enough different in thie past partners area, that I now think you are likely buiding a custom unit for your boat if you try to make this device.

Unit for #11867 (Allen) - Wood Mast

Photo of device in place ready to recieve Mast Butt

Photo of device before adding bracket upon which mast butt rotates

Photo of Mast Butt receiver, would have to be a different design to receive a modern aluminum mast butt. Also would need to be mounted differently for a boat with narrow (standard width) mast partners

Shows how the swinging mast butt receiver is hinged, using two old small racelite straps

Shows how easy the device is to install and remove. The rubber band helps hold the receiver in place while you drop the mast butt into it.

Photo of Dynema shroud extenders. These connect to the bottom of existing upper shrouds. Run thru the upper shroud chainplates and cleat off using the existing guy cleats. Purpose is to stabilize the mast as you are pushing it upward. I did not have it adjusted right, so really they didn't do anything, but would probably be useful after I used the rig a few more times. So lets call them a potentialy helpful option?

To help hold mast butt in the hinge unit while walking it up, I have added a larger bracket to hold the mast butt. And added a line to quickly tie it in place as well.