Mast Stepping

Finally stepped my mast today; after spending 3 hours helping the skipper of a boat before me, we were up in 30 minutes. When you know the drill it's easy. She'll learn, I was a rookie once too. I was actually a rookie for a couple of seasons. My club is fortunate in that we have a full time steward who can step any mast of reasonable length. He's a pro. And always soft spoken, even when you do something wrong. David Dobbs CAL 29 411

On 6/26/2016 10:55 PM, david dobbs tm… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > > Finally stepped my mast today; after spending 3 hours helping the > skipper of a boat before me, we were up in 30 minutes. When you know > the drill it's easy. She'll learn, I was a rookie once too. I was > actually a rookie for a couple of seasons. My club is fortunate in > that we have a full time steward who can step any mast of reasonable > length. He's a pro. And always soft spoken, even when you do > something wrong. > David Dobbs CAL 29 411 My theory is that you win lots of good will by being prepared. Then if something unexpected pops up, others will cut you some slack. I am always ready to go, on time, with all the stuff I need. I don't think there has ever been a glitch. This spring when I launched the other boat, one of the yard employees saw me hauling my wooden mast to the launch slip. I keep it in the building with the boat so I can varnish it as necessary. There's a little wheeled cart secured at the step end for hauling via one person at the other end. The yard employee volunteered to "help." He actually did _all_ the hauling to the slip--not a crushing chore, but it was thoughtful of him to notice and ask. So I sent a letter to the marina. The owner called me on the phone. He was astonished because nobody ever reports good behavior, just complaints. I also send donuts in the fall after haul-out. As a result, everybody loves my boat. She's pretty and she's old and who can resist a pretty old sailboat? Chris Campbell > > >

A little “please and thank you” goes a long way. Fred Haas On Jun 27, 2016, at 1:11 PM, ccampbell cc… [at] lsnm.org [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > The yard employee volunteered to "help." He actually did all the hauling to the slip--not a crushing chore, but it was thoughtful of him to notice and ask. So I sent a letter to the marina. The owner called me on the phone. He was astonished because nobody ever reports good behavior, just complaints. I also send donuts in the fall after haul-out. As a result, everybody loves my boat. She's pretty and she's old and who can resist a pretty old sailboat? > > Chris Campbell >> >> > > >

Finally stepped the mast today, wasn't scheduled but the big ketch owner decided it was too windy today, and said, "Why don't you step yours?" So we did; our club steward runs the crane and directs the crew, four other people to help, and it went up in no time. We all help each other at my club, there are always people around on the weekend willing to help. Next time I go there I'll probably help someone else. Come visit us if you're in Chicago, Jackson Park Y.C. Plenty of dock space,David Dobbs, CAL29 411

On 6/24/2017 6:14 PM, david dobbs tm… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > > Finally stepped the mast today, wasn't scheduled but the big ketch > owner decided it was too windy today, and said, "Why don't you step > yours?" So we did; our club steward runs the crane and directs the > crew, four other people to help, and it went up in no time. We all > help each other at my club, there are always people around on the > weekend willing to help. Next time I go there I'll probably help > someone else. Come visit us if you're in Chicago, Jackson Park Y.C. > Plenty of dock space, I got the mast stepped on Cal 20 # 1220, the lovely Martha C, on June 16 after a June 12 launch. Stepping on the Cal 20 doesn't require mechanical assistance but is a two person job. Problem is, when you get to be my age, everybody is feeble or disabled. I do have a few people who would say "yes" to any request for help, but those are the very people that you don't want to burden by repeat requests. I have solved the problem by hiring crew members from the local tourist schooner. I get somebody who's fit, underpaid, and knowledgeable about boats. They walk away with money in the pocket for about 10 minutes' work and I have the mast stepped without trying to find a "volunteer." On the subject of people my age, it doesn't seem to be just the old folks who are feeble and disabled. A couple years ago I needed to move a precast concrete stoop at my cottage. I had built a base of treated 6x6s to elevate it and needed to move it on. Both of my nephews were unavailable because of hernias and a general disinclination toward physical labor. So, like the Little Red Hen, I did it myself. Between levers and rollers, you can move heavy things pretty effectively. About a decade ago, two of us got a Cal 20 on a cradle up in the air and onto a flatbed trailer using hydraulic jacks, pry bars, and rollers. The other guy is one of those people that I could call and always get a yes from. Chris Campbell

Hey Chris, that's a great idea! Being a 62 yr. old single handing, female sailor there are times when my body just can't do it, let alone the times when you just need another set of hands. We also have a schooner here on the West Coast named Adventuress and she is a teaching schooner who docks in my harbor a week at a time. I will certainly implement your suggestion the next time I need that help and she's around. Thanks Faith On 2017-06-26 06:54, ccampbell cc… [at] lsnm.org [Cal_Boats] wrote: > On 6/24/2017 6:14 PM, david dobbs tm… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > >> Finally stepped the mast today, wasn't scheduled but the big ketch owner decided it was too windy today, and said, "Why don't you step yours?" So we did; our club steward runs the crane and directs the crew, four other people to help, and it went up in no time. We all help each other at my club, there are always people around on the weekend willing to help. Next time I go there I'll probably help someone else. Come visit us if you're in Chicago, Jackson Park Y.C. Plenty of dock space, > > I got the mast stepped on Cal 20 # 1220, the lovely Martha C, on June 16 after a June 12 launch. Stepping on the Cal 20 doesn't require mechanical assistance but is a two person job. Problem is, when you get to be my age, everybody is feeble or disabled. I do have a few people who would say "yes" to any request for help, but those are the very people that you don't want to burden by repeat requests. I have solved the problem by hiring crew members from the local tourist schooner. I get somebody who's fit, underpaid, and knowledgeable about boats. They walk away with money in the pocket for about 10 minutes' work and I have the mast stepped without trying to find a "volunteer." > > On the subject of people my age, it doesn't seem to be just the old folks who are feeble and disabled. A couple years ago I needed to move a precast concrete stoop at my cottage. I had built a base of treated 6x6s to elevate it and needed to move it on. Both of my nephews were unavailable because of hernias and a general disinclination toward physical labor. So, like the Little Red Hen, I did it myself. Between levers and rollers, you can move heavy things pretty effectively. About a decade ago, two of us got a Cal 20 on a cradle up in the air and onto a flatbed trailer using hydraulic jacks, pry bars, and rollers. The other guy is one of those people that I could call and always get a yes from. > > Chris Campbell > > Links: ------ [1] https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Cal_Boats/conversations/messages/43220;_ylc=X3oDMTJyMHNsbW5rBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRtc2dJZAM0MzIyMARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzE0OTg0ODcxMDA-?act=reply&amp;messageNum=43220 [2] https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Cal_Boats/conversations/newtopic;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZDdoM2xpBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzE0OTg0ODcxMDA- [3] https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Cal_Boats/conversations/topics/17388;_ylc=X3oDMTM3M3UwYmtqBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRtc2dJZAM0MzIyMARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzE0OTg0ODcxMDAEdHBjSWQDMTczODg- [4] https://yho.com/1wwmgg [5] https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Cal_Boats/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMGowMHJ1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0OTg0ODcxMDA- [6] https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlaGo1czN1BF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ5ODQ4NzEwMA-- [7] https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html [8] https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/

Best day of early summer, stepped the mast Saturday. Replaced 2 lower shrouds that were bad, a bit of a tussle, those cotters were small! Plenty of help from fellow club members. We all pitch in for that. 30 minutes and the uppers, forestay and backstay are in place, she's a sailboat again. Left is the boom install and putting on the sails. We'll be sailing next weekend. David, Cal29 411

David, great to hear about the club cooperation. We have 10 Cal 25s at one dock in Annapolis, and adopt a similar helpful attitude. A band of brothers (sisters included)? Cheers Charlie Annapolis Cal 25 From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, June 25, 2018 5:25 PM To: Yahoogroups <ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Subject: [Cal_Boats] Mast Stepping Best day of early summer, stepped the mast Saturday. Replaced 2 lower shrouds that were bad, a bit of a tussle, those cotters were small! Plenty of help from fellow club members. We all pitch in for that. 30 minutes and the uppers, forestay and backstay are in place, she's a sailboat again. Left is the boom install and putting on the sails. We'll be sailing next weekend. David, Cal29 411

Sisters Indeed!We have a number of single females who sail their own boats. Our present commodore is female. I believe we were the first yacht club in Chicago to have a female commodore, and she is black. That was in 2007. We're pretty inclusive. It's hard to get good people to take on club responsibilities, so you get those you can. Race or sex or orientation don't matter, it's about making things work.David Cal29 411 On Monday, June 25, 2018, 8:57:56 PM CDT, 'Charlie Husar' hu… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: David, great to hear about the club cooperation. We have 10 Cal 25s at one dock in Annapolis, and adopt a similar helpful attitude. A band of brothers (sisters included)? Cheers Charlie Annapolis Cal 25 From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, June 25, 2018 5:25 PM To: Yahoogroups <ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Subject: [Cal_Boats] Mast Stepping Best day of early summer, stepped the mast Saturday. Replaced 2 lower shrouds that were bad, a bit of a tussle, those cotters were small! Plenty of help from fellow club members. We all pitch in for that. 30 minutes and the uppers, forestay and backstay are in place, she's a sailboat again. Left is the boom install and putting on the sails. We'll be sailing next weekend. David, Cal29 411