DRAFT VERSION 6-15-2020 11 am

Following are directions for raising the K7UAZ 28-foot fiberglass mast (from Max Gain Systems). In general, please read and following the directions exactly. Virtually all of the techniques, notes warning are based on the real experiences of successfully (and unsuccessfully) putting up this mast about 100 times, refining the process throughout.

Material and Tools

Stakes (7 each) (4 for the mast; 2 for an antenna; 1 spare)

Hammer

measuring rope (23 1/2 feet long)

Max Gain Systems 28 ft mast

lower guy ropes, guy rings, rope winders (3 each)

upper guy ropes, guy rings, rope winders (3 each)

short philips screwdriver

installing stakes

1. Install the Center Stake exactly where mast will be located.

2. Attach the carabiner (on measuring rope) to the Center Stake. This measuring rope will be used to exactly place where the guying stakes will located.

3. To install Stake #1

a) Draw the measuring rope modeately tight.

b) Place Stake #1 at the end of the measuring rope. Tilt the stake 30 degrees from vertical, away from the Center Stake.

c) Install Stake #1 into the ground using the hammer. Leave about 1 inch of the stake showing above the ground. Keeping the "T" above the ground will allow you to more easily get your hand under the "T" when you remove the stake.

d) Orient the plastic "T" on the top of the stake at 90 degrees to the measuring rope. This will better capture the guy ropes.

4. Repeat, installing Stakes #2 and #3 at 120 degree each around the mast location.

installing guy ropes & halyard

5. Lay the mast on the ground with the top next to the Center Stake.

6. Orient the LOWER guy ring on the mast so that one of the guy ropes is pointed towards Stake #1.

7. Unwind this LOWER guy rope, extending the rope to Stake #1.

8. Route the guy rope around Stake #1, under the "T".

9. Arrange the metal Rope Break adjacent to the whipping, as shown below (need photo). Draw the rope taught against Stake #1. (ADD PHOTO) (NOTE: this ensures the guy rope is just about the right length when you raise the mast. There will be about a foot of slack in each guy rope then the mast is raised. Having only a foot of slack will prevent the mast from falling over!)

10. (deleted)

11. Repeat the guy rope installation for the two remaining LOWER guy ropes.

12. Repeat the guy rope installation for the three remaining UPPER guy ropes.

13. Uncoil and lay the halyard on the ground it's full length. (NOTE: you want to lay it out its full length so it does not tangle when being raised. If it gets tangled, after you raise the mast the halyard may be above your reach!)

14. Route the halyard through the pulley and tie an overhand knot, joining the two ends. Leave about 8 inches of "tails" in the overhand knot; these tails can be used to attach a wire antenna to the halyard.

raising the mast

15. Lift the mast off the ground, place the bottom next to the Center Stake.

16. Ensure all the guy rings, guy ropes, and halyard are arranged so they will NOT TANGLE when the mast is raised.

17. Loosen the clamp for the top section of the mast.

18. Raise the top section of the mast to the bottom of the warning markings. Tighten clamp.

WARNING: PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND NOTE THE WARNING MARKINGS ON THE SECTIONS AS THEY ARE RAISED. DO NOT RAISE THE SECTIONS BEYOND THE WARNING MARKINGS. THERE ARE ONLY 4 INCHES OF ENGAGEMENT OF THE TWO SECTIONS.

YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO RAPIDLY RAISE THE MAST. IF YOU GO TOO FAST:

A) YOU MIGHT MISTAKENLY TAKE ONE SECTION COMPLETELY OUT OF THE MATING LOWER SECTION, THE UPPER SECTIONS MAY FALL / BREAK, YOU MIGHT BE INJURED.

B) YOU MIGHT MISTAKENLY RAISE ONE SECTION SUCH THAT IT'S ENGAGED ONLY WITH THE TOP 1/2 OF THE BLACK CLAMP, THE SECTION CAN TILT BACK AND THE CLAMP WILL BREAK. AGAIN, THE UPPER SECTIONS WILL FALL AND YOU MIGHT BE INJURED.

19. Note the orientation of the pulley and halyard. Now is a good time to adjust the orientation of the pulley based on the orientation that you desire for the wire antenna.

20. Raise the next section of the mast. Check the orientation of the pulley to ensure it's still where you want it. (NOTE: If you don't monitor this orientation the pulley may end up in a non-optimal orientation.)

21. Raise all the sections.

WARNING: THE LAST COUPLE OF SECTIONS CAN BE A PHYSICAL CHALLENGE. AGAIN, TAKE YOUR TIME AND ENSURE YOU DON'T RAISE THE SECTIONS BEYOND THE WARNING MARKINGS.

22. At this point the mast should be up, supported loosely by the guy ropes.

23. Adjust the taut line hitches for the BOTTOM GUY ROPES ONLY. Adjust them so the section of the mast from the ground to the lower guy ring is VERTICAL. (NOTE: ignore the mast above the lower guy ring).

24. Visually inspect and ensure the lower guy ropes are quite taut -- adjust taut line hitches as necessary.

25. Adjust the taut line hitches for the TOP GUY ROPES ONLY. Adjust them so the section of the mast between the lower guy ring and upper guy ring is VERTICAL. (NOTE: the lower section of the mast is constrained and should not move.)

26. The mast is now ready for you to attach a wire antenna to the halyard!

LOWERing the mast

27. You might want to collect the wire antenna first, before you lower it. This allows you to "spool up" a lot of the antenna while the antenna is still suspended off the ground.

28. Remove the antenna from the halyard.

29. Remove the halyard. (NOTE: this simplifies the system and ensures the halyard doesn't get tangled with any guy ropes as you're lowering the mast)

30. Lower the mast; lay the mast on the ground next to the Center Stake.

31. Untie the tautline hitches on the upper guy ropes.

32. Pull the upper guy ropes straight out from the mast

33. Wind the upper guy ropes onto the rope winders.

34. Repeat for the lower guy ropes.

35. Collect all the stakes (SIX EACH) and store in the plastic box.