Page 282 - Brion Toss - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

spot, there will be a manageable amount of weight might want to twist in its gear; stop it. As it moves,
on the butt, and the mast will hang fairly plumb look aloft frequently to be sure that nothing is foul-
yet be angled enough that it will be easy to move ing the crane. Jib foils are great at this.
the butt around. Attaching that low also means that For a keel-stepped mast, send a good hand below
the crane doesn’t have to lift. Never allow any lifting to guide the mast into the step, and have one or two
gear to bear on the spreaders or tangs; they’re not other helpers on deck to help you guide it into the
designed to take strain from that direction. hole. On large craft, station a reliable, clear-voiced
It’s a good idea at this time to wrap some thin person in the companionway or next to a porthole to
padding around the bury of a keel-stepped mast. relay information between step and deck.
This section will be completely exposed below, dom- Make sure the mast is oriented properly (it’s
inating the cabin, and people will tend to stare at it, amazing how easy it is to put a mast in backward),
clucking over any scratches it might have received and signal to lower away, adjusting to center over
on the way down. the hole as you go. It should be plumb laterally, and
As an option, hitch on a tag line and have a vol- almost plumb vertically. When it’s well in, it is up to
unteer tail it. You will need this if the mast is very the person at the step to begin giving you directions
large, and/or if it has to travel a long way vertically for final adjustments. Properly, these are in terms
to reach the deck of the boat. Explain to the tailer of the direction of the butt’s travel: “Two inches to
that the tag line is just to keep the butt from swing- port” means you signal the crane to move the head
ing, and to keep the top of the mast from slamming to starboard; “Two inches aft” means you signal to
into the head of the crane, during the intervals that move the head forward. When the tenon is right at
the mast is out of your reach. Easy does it. the step, you and your helpers can help it along by
Take a look around. Any stray dogs or children pushing and twisting on the mast. It’s almost in the
nearby? Anything you or the tailer might trip over? hole now. . . . Wait! Did they put the lucky coin in?
Anything likely to snag the mast between where it is Come up a couple of inches, deposit the talisman
and where it’s going? Once again, any power lines? (after swinging the butt off to one side), and let it
Think things through. If necessary, get some help to down again. Tchunnngk. Stepped.
keep the area clear. Is the tenon firmly seated? Are all the wires led
When everyone’s ready, position the crane so properly? Good. Set some temporary wedges, cast
that the hook is exactly over the lifting collar. If it is off the standing-rigging lashing, and lead the wires
off even a little, the mast will want to slide around, out to their homes. What with the relief of tension
which can be dangerous. Signal to hoist and let the at this moment, people tend to get a little crazy,
top end come off its sawhorse a foot or so. Give the grabbing at everything and falling over each other.
stop signal and check the gear again. All in order? So send all but one or two helpers away, calm your
Nothing snagging? Not too much or too little butt own giddy heart, and proceed methodically. First
weight? Stand from under and continue the pick. the shrouds, then the fore-and-aft stays—just hand
Once the mast is clear, signal to lift and travel. tight, enough to stabilize the mast. If the crane is in
Watch the mast, the crane operator, the tailer, and the way of the fore- or backstay, the shrouds will
yourself. Keep the mast within easy reach, so that hold the stick for now. If the rig design does not
you and your helpers can keep it from spinning or include shrouds with the necessary lead, rig a tem-
swinging. Take it over to the boat, to the side that is porary stay to a winch or cleat, low enough or at a
away from the side you will board from. You and a steep enough angle to clear the crane’s boom.
helper or two will have to get aboard before the mast Have the crane operator let some slack into the
gets to the boat. Just stay out from under. When the lift, and see that everything is holding well. Then
mast is over the boat and just above the deck, begin cast off the heel line and bring the collar down. If
the fine-tuning to steer it to just over the step. It the collar is above the spreaders, get your climbing

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