A keel-stepped mast must be lifted high enough to be lowered straight down through the deck ring. Make sure the crane has sufficient vertical lift. • When the mast has been stayed, move away from the mast crane as soon as possible to make room for the next yacht. The hook The lifting strop should be fitted with a locking device to prevent the lifting strop from slipping off. If this is not done, the strop must be fixed to the hook as shown in illustration on right. • should be made from suitable rope, using a sheet bend. Check that all shrouds and stays are outside the strop. For multi-spreader rigs, if the strop is made long enough it will be possible to detach it from the hook after the mast has been stepped, without having to climb the first spreaders. However, make sure the crane is high enough to handle a long strop.• would cause a serious imbalance and make it difficult to hold the foot of the mast. Secure the strop with a strong rope carefully tied to a suitable fitting lower down the mast. For single-spreader rigs the strop is normally located underneath the spreader brackets. Make sure the strop does not interfere with the lower shroud attachments.•
Lifting strop secured at the mast’s centre of gravity. If there is no locking device, secure the line around the hook. Tip • Pad the hook and the hook attachment with soft rags or foam rubber before raising the mast. This prevents damage to the mast. • Attach a line to the lifting strop to make it easier to pull the strop down.
Lift hook with locking device and endless lifting strop. 21