[Public-List] mast step vs A-frame

[William Dirks]

I installed a tabernacle on my boat (a Whitby 25), after using an A-frame
to unstep the mast.  I used the A frame again to step the mast after
installing the tabernacle, then last year I used a series of lines and a
spinnaker pole (and a few neighbors) to step and unstep it.  I'd say the
only real advantage to having the tabernacle and using a spinnaker pole is
that that system is mobile and can be done anywhere with equipment you
already have on the boat.  The difference in stepping and unstepping is
otherwise not that different and requires the same number of people and
level of care.  As I remember, Jean du Sud's tabernacle is a lot heftier
than the off the shelf variety and perhaps makes the process less
stressful.  I think his purpose in installing a tabernacle was to be able
to trailer the boat, so he needed to frequently drop and re-step the mast.