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How to Step a J24 Sailboat Mast

Sailboat masts are designed to be strong, sturdy and resist wind. The J24, also known as the JBoat, is one of the largest one-design keel boat class to feature a cockpit. The J24 is a three-piece boat made of a deck, hull and interior liner tied together by bulkheads. The boat is a popular racing boat with a uniquely crafted hull. However, stepping a mast on the J24 can be a tricky proposition without proper guidance. You can step your mast with attention to detail and time.

Things You'll Need

8 mm Speatra mainsail
6 mm Genoa halyards with spliced tails
6 mm Dacron spinnaker halyard

Instructions

- 1
  Position the mast against two measurements. Crawl inside the forward cabin and measure from the stem fitting -- a metal plate in the bow -- to the third bold down the fitting where it meets the hull.
- 2
  Measure from the "I" beam that the mast sits on, marking the beam at 2,730 mm, to the front of the mast at 130 mm. Make a line on the beam.
- 3
  Tighten your upper halyards to 20 according to the tension gauge conversion chart. Leave slack in the lower halyards. Your halyards are used to haul the sail up into the air with the boom and gaff.
- 4
  Center the mast by measuring from the stem fitting to an upright point on both rails at the front face of the mast.
- 5
  Measure from the perpendicular point on the rails to the center weld on the mast. Look closely to see if the mast is centered in the deck.
- 6
  Fasten, or cleat, the genora halyard (the attaching straps) at the halyard shackle, a fastener on each side of the mast. Repeat this step on the opposite side of the mast.
- 7
  Adjust the upper halyards until the mast is centered. Adjust the lower halyards, which will straighten the mast. Leave the backstay -- a line for support the mast to the aft deck -- loose throughout the process. Your mast is now stepped.

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