Any tips on lowering the mast on an Oday 22?

sailguy40 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-28-2010

I have not done it yet and I may have to so I can replace my anchor light at the very top of my mast. Is it heavy and is it possible to bring it down with one person? It looks like it has a hinge to help lower it. My boat is a 1980 if that helps.

LandLocked66c · #2 (**permalink**) 06-28-2010

Shouldn't be to bad, sounds like you have a tabernacle. To do it by yourself i'd recommend you build one of these: Tips - Gin Pole

highlandman · #3 (**permalink**) 07-15-2010

Much easier with two people. Surely you can snag a passerby for five minutes?
My wife and I have done it a bunch of times (1978 boat). Unship and stow the boom; make sure halyards are not belayed to anything on the deck; slack the forestay and leave the shrouds be; pull the forward pin out of the tabernacle; un-pin the forestay at the deck and hang on.
Now have your helper stand in the cockpit astraddle the seats (recommend closing the companionway to prevent unintentionally stepping into it) and reach up to catch the mast as you lower it by the forestay. There will be a brief moment of excitement for the last two feet or so but it isn't real heavy.
Lower the stick to the deck. It sticks WAY out astern.
Now the trickiest part -- when you pull the aft pin out of the tabernacle the thing will want to go overboard astern, so you'll have to be putting downward pressure at the mast heel while you do it. Then you and your helper simply walk the stick forward until it balances aboard the boat.
Reverse to raise. Good luck.
-Glenn

Samf3633 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-08-2011

Done it many of times really not that hard. undo all cables, hold pressure forward pull front pin on mast step put sholder on mast and walk it back till its about half way down rotate body grab mast with your hands and walk the rest down. pretty easy and fast the gin pole will work but it takes longer to rig that thing than to just drop it.
Sam

deniseO30 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-08-2011

Loosen but don't remove the middle (side) stays. they should keep the mast from swinging out of control to the left or right when you let it down.

TSchwarck · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2011

I have a 1980 O'Day 22. When lowering the mast I attach the mainsheet to the stem and jib halyard and unhook the forestay. The shrouds don't do anything to keep the mast centered as it is lowered(fractional rig) so I steady the mast by hand as it comes down. It is much easier with a gin pole.