Attaching the shrouds and forestay after raising the mast is one of the most time consuming and difficult setup tasks. I decided to install Hyfield Levers on the upper/lower shrouds so I could just snap the shrouds to the proper tension quickly and easily...and single handed raise/lower the mast and attach the shrouds/forestay in a heartbeat with no struggle or expenditure of muscles. This is a pretty expensive mod as the levers are expensive and you need four of them plus the the shrouds themselves need modification or actual replacement and is probably best done by a rigger.

BUT...it was all well worth it. I can setup my mast totally by myself in a matter of minutes. Bear in mind I have an electric winch I use to raise/lower the mast (see my other modification article) and I use Ball-Lok Quick-Release Pins for my clevis pins (google this if you do not what they are).

Here is my new procedure: 1) I use electric winch to raise the mast (if you have a helper, it is actually faster to attach a line to the jib and have the helper pull up the mast from in front of the tow vehicls...note I now always use the winch to lower the mast as I feel far more secure), 2) pop in the mast wedge, 3)attach the forestay to the furler with the Ball-Lock pin (which is super easy as the shrouds are not attached yet so there is no tension on the mast), 4) attach the shrouds with the Ball-Lock pins and 5) close the Hyfield levers.

Note I had my rigger leave the turnbuckles on the shrouds so the tension is set as normal with the turnbuckles.

The two pictures show the Hyfield levers open and closed.

Note I install the Ball-Lock pins such that the head of the pin is on the inside of the shrouds...not the outside. This way, if you fly a spinnaker the spinnaker sheets will not get hung up on the pins.

I am not kidding...this is one of the slickest and most worthwhile mods I have made to my boat. WOO-HOO!