Balpha Mast is a foldable mast system for yachts that allows easy lowering and raising of masts. This system is unique in that it eliminates the need for free-standing masts, beghind-the-mast furls, rotary masts, and A-frame rigs to enable true downwind reefing. The A-frame mast is an innovative rigging solution for sailboats, including catamarans and trimarans. It has both benefits and disadvantages, such as being a design class with only a few parameters such as maximum length, width, and sail area.
The A-frame mast is fitted on the deck, and all force on the rig goes into the hulls, eliminating the stress point in the beam and preventing dangerous booms. The Dragonfly, a 50-sailboat built by George Buehler, is planning to incorporate the Mast-aft configuration with an A-Frame Mast. The folding FOSCAT32 catamaran is an energy-efficient alternative concept cat sail vessel that consumes no fuel and harnesses renewable solar and wind for minimal environmental impact.
An A-frame rig simplifies cruising sailboat lowering its mast while underway, such as on a Great Loop Cruise. A simple yet ridged 12-foot mast can be made into a folding design that is now 6 feet in length. Some sailboats have a removable mast, but many places take the mast down and lift the boat out for half the year.
A mast dolly is available with a minimum height of 36 and a maximum height of 50, including four non-marking 5 lockable caster wheels and a set screw to lock the position.
📹 Dropping the Mast on a Sailboat with a DIY Wooden A-Frame while at the Dock
Episode #184 – How We Dropped Our Mast on SV Triteia Hello Friends, On this episode we show you how we de-stepped our …
📹 A Frame Mast Raising System
On an Ericson 27. After the mast was raised upright, we ran the wiring through the deck and attached all the rigging. A Frame held …
This is fantastic. I’m definitely going to do this myself since you’ve sworn that I’ll be ok! 65′ bridge height here and parked next to million dollar yachts! Seriously though, thank you. I recommend anyone else who tries this maybe go off to a quiet Anchorage and not the dock, just in case the mast goes sideways.
Awesome article guys! I used an almost identical setup on my Ericson 27. (31ft mast) I choked it under the spreaders and used an cheap electric wench from walmart that had a wired remote control so I could control the mast and lift at the same time. I had never lifted anything like this before so it was stressful but I spent a lot of time planning it and it turned out to be easy. Everything you said was spot on about the process – especially the go slow part. Thanks for making this article I wish I had it when I was planning this!
I am about to lower the mast on my 1979 Alberg 30. My mast came with an actual hinge at the base to be able to tilt the mast aft. I have done your method on a Catalina 25, and it worked perfectly. I tied off the raising line just below the spreaders. And was able to keep just a slight downward pressure on the base of the mast as it was lowered. Raising it back up was another story. I had removed the A-frame which got my shrouds out of order. If you keep the A-frame up, when you raise the mast back up everything should go up in order though. I’m seriously considering using your method instead of my hinge and Jen pole. Can you tell me exactly where your purchase point on the mast was? It looked like it was above your spreaders