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Subject: Building a Gin Pole, need Photo's

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Paul Schiavoni
Posts:2

01/16/2010 7:01 PM
Up until now I have been paying the local yard to step my mast each spring & fall. I recently acquired a broken mast section that is just begging to be turned into a Gin Pole. I have read a number of articles about how the gin pole should work but I have never seen one in action...I have searched the web high & low but can not seem to locate a photo's of the J/24 gin pole. The whole concept seems pretty straight foreward except I am a bit unsure on a couple of points. Where do you attach the port & starboard lines that support the pole? The aft stancion mounting plates would appear to be too far aft to provide a good stable platform? The jib car tracks/jib blocks seem too close to the mast step? I would love to see a picture / pictures of a gin pole in action. Seeing is beleiving... Let me know if you can help. Thank You, Paul S. pschiavoni@verizon.net

steven clough
Posts:56

01/16/2010 11:04 PM
Paul, I have a gin pole that I designed a few years ago (no longer need) and I can give you some details as to how to design your mast section. It does take a little practice but it works quite efficiently. Steve

Dan Webb
Posts:66

01/18/2010 12:00 PM
Hi Paul, A busted J/24 mast might not be your best option. It is a pretty big section of mast and is heavy which would make it difficult to manage. We use an old Flying Dutchman mast. It has a small section and is light enough to lift on and off the boat easily. We have a line tied to the side stays on the gin pole that we lead through the deck mounted tweaker cleats This works as long as they are mounted behind the partners. The forestay of the gin pole is attached to the genoa tack shackle. The gin pole is in the barn so I'm not able to take pictures.

Lambert Lai
Posts:39

01/19/2010 3:15 PM
Hi Paul, I still use a gin Pole from Hall spars and rigging. I think I paid $175 for it when I bought it 7 years ago. It came complete with rigging lines. Add a block and a halyard and you're good to go. Try info@hallspars.com to ask about the current price.

Chip Till
Posts:105

01/29/2010 2:47 PM
All, I have a group of pictures that show the setup of my gin pole. Feel free to find them on my Facebook page (Chip Till-Wilmington, NC). Cheers! Chip Till J/24 USA# 5351 – “Murder Incorporated”

greg stilin
Posts:8

02/17/2010 10:27 PM
A light mast section that is long enough to be above the spreaders by 2 feet is about right. You guy it with wire rope to the 2 aft stanchion bases, and to the bow cleat. Use your vang to tension the wire rope to the bow cleat. Make sure the pole is vertical with a level. As long as the gin pole is vertical it can safely lift the 80lb J-24 mast. The pole base is a wood pad that lies between the forward hatch and the mast through-hole. Your main sheet blocks and a spinnaker sheet can be your lifting tackle. When lifting or dropping, the butt of the mast goes forward. The main problem is the spreaders may want to hang up in your gin pole guys, and you have to design it so this does not happen. A trick is to tie a tail from your lifting loop to your spinnaker ring so that the lift loop does not jam under the spreaders. You'll be lifting a little below center of gravity but not by to much. Avoid windy days and power lines, and check everything carefully. One drop and all those $100 fees will be cheap in comparison.

Matt Jordan
Posts:6

03/02/2010 2:44 PM
Chip, I'm not too familiar with facebook & need some help. I found your facebook page, but I could not find the photos. Thanks. Matt

Paul Schiavoni
Posts:2

03/11/2010 6:34 PM
Hi Greg, thanks for the advice. The whole process looks pretty straightforeward. One question, do you reccomend installing the mast with the boat in the water or still on the trailer? Thanks, Paul S.

greg stilin
Posts:8

03/13/2010 9:08 PM
We always do it both fall and spring on the trailer. The thing is you're pretty high up there and you have to be careful. Also, you have to make sure the whole thing is level because if your gin pole is not truly vertical it is not as strong and could fail. I suppose on the water you would always be level. Also if you have a 2 wheel trailer make sure your struts are down for stability. You don't want your trailer to do a "wheelie" while you're up there.

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