[quote=mattson]I experimented with gin poles on my H18 and P19 but the tensions and loads scared me. It was like something could go really wrong at any moment. Probably misplaced paranoia on my part, but could not get comfortable with it. So now I pay $70 a month for mast up storage at the harbor.
I noticed you are using your forestay, which I presume is the reason you need to position the pole up the mast a bit to keep at 90 deg. I had my gin poles set at the very bottom of the mast at the casting, and used a loop of amsteel line, looped through the shroud tang shackle, then to a winch on the trailer for hoisting. Basically a double line. Once in position, I would rig the forestay. Then I would unwind the winch and retrieve the line by pulling one end out. The downside here is that there was no way to rig for lowering the mast. Looking at your setup, my only concern would be possibly denting the mast. But if you've done this with success already, it should be fine. The boat does not appear to be strapped to the trailer. I would think the lift early in the process could pull the boat forward, but maybe not.
Earlier in the year, before the mast up storage was available, I sketched out a design with a telescoping bracket rigged with blocks that would lift the mast from the rear beam, inducing the same forces as lifting it by hand. Redesigning it 4 or 5 times on paper, I think I have something that would work. But, like the pole, it could start scaring me again once I tried it in practice.[/quote]
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