J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Pulling a J30 mast

I need to pull the mast on my J30. Don't have a crane but was going to attach a pully to the cross bar of a Travellift. I figured just below the spreaders. I think the purchase is 6:1, 4 pulleys at one end and 3 at the other end. How heavy is the mast. Any other tips or tricks

I use an old power pole with an arm attached to it with a pulley on the end of it. I use a boat trailer winch to lift the mast. the mast isn't too heavy. I can pick up one end of it without too much trouble. I haven't tried but i don't think I could pick up the entire mast by myself. I'm guessing that it weighs around 200-250 pounds. I hook my mast just below the spreader when stepping or unstepping. I run the cable behind the mast and pivot the bottom end of the mast toward the stern as we lay it down. It works well but you will need someone to hold onto the bottom end to stabilize it as you lay it down. make sure your tackle system is pulling the mast pretty close to straight up or you might have problems getting it to break loose from the mast step and binding at the deck. other than that it is pretty simple just be careful, make sure everything is securely attached. You don't want to drop the mast. It would do a lot of damage to your boat or people if it falls.

Your weight estimate is correct, it weighs about 250lbs but it is tall enough to be pretty ungainly. I walk the bottom of the mast forward and hang it in a rope sling beneath the pulpit (measures 13' 2" from the road whilst sitting on my trailer that way, street legal by 4"!). Pivot point just beneath the spreaders is fine, be sure that you tie the loop where it is livoting just beneath the spreaders to a cleat or something on the mast itself with a line as you dont want any pressure on the spreaders themselves. Be careful of your forestay foil as you lower, it can get hung up.