Should I climb my mast?

-I have a Hurley 22ft sailing yacht and have just acquired a proper VHF with mast top ariel. The boat is currently on dry land but will be launched next week.



Should I climb the mast (with bosun's chair of course) with the boat on dry land OR should I wait till it's launched and do it on the water for a softer landing should I fall, (but I am worried about the effect I will have on the boats balance if I am up there).



OR should I try to step the mast. The problem with stepping the mast is that I have no clue how to do it, and looking on the internet they say it requires a crane do so. Therefor this is least preferable but possibly the safest.



What to do?lower you mast.



the hurley 22 has a deck stepped mast that has a tabernackle mast step. lowering the mast should be a simple process. complete instructions as listed on the hurley owners web site below. it will be better to lower the mast in the water in a slip.



http://www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk鈥?/a>



http://www.sailingtexas.com/shurley22a.h鈥?/a>



http://www.yotblog.com/silkie/page/3/



hope this helps
Or...If the boat has a retractable keel, retract the keel, get a bunch of people to lean the boat over and stand on a few tables to reach the top of the mast on the shore

Probably the easiest way is to just put it lower down; I don't think VHF needs to be at the top of the mast.
Here's a good write-up: http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/resources/Mar鈥?/a>
Or you could mount it in a lower position. My marina has a bucket they put on the forklift for doing things like that. Man gets in the bucket and they pick him up.
First of all call your boat whatever you wish irregardless of it's size. The origin of the word yacht is a much debated thing but it is generally accepted to be a vessel not used in conducting commerce so a 100 foot sailing vessel used for charter is not a yacht but yours could be. As for your problem why not find some relatively high point and get a rope around your mast up over the spreaders and drop your fenders. Then use the rope to heel the boat and grant you access to the mast head. Even if you have to tie the end to a hitch on your car to pull it down a little. Use some caution and take your time and it'll be fine.
First of all a 22 foot TOY BOAT is NOT A YACHT.. a 22 foot TOY would barely be big enough to serve as a good DINGHY for a YACHT.. so don't go around telling people you have a 22 foot YACHT if you want them to take you seriously.



If the mast is not stepped.. then WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? you just mount the antenna and run the lines with the mast laying down.. so I don't understand what you are talking about.



Depending on the boat yard,many TRAVEL LIFT'S have a small crane on them that is used to step a mast.. but if you have any kind of tabercle at all, you can step the mast for a 22 foot TOY BOAT with just 2 people an some 2x4 lumber in the form of an "X".. somehting that any YACHT OWNER should be able to do.



Some years ago I had an 18 foot Laguna that is stepped and unstepped the mast SINGLEHANDED with norhting more than a light wench and a bit of rigging knowledge... but then.. it was only 18 foot long so it was not a "YACHT".. snicker, snicker, snicker.