HELPER Mastlift — a safer way to raise and lower your mast

The unavoidable autumn job

In the Nordic countries, boats are hauled ashore for winter and masts are unstepped — an annual routine for every sailor. Traditionally the mast is lifted with rope loops below the spreaders or by using the sail halyards. These methods carry risks:

On single-spreader masts the lifting point often sits below the centre of gravity, so the mast tends to tip over unless someone holds the base.
Using sail halyards loads the lines and fittings in the wrong direction and increases the risk of damage.
Equipment at the masthead — wind instruments, Windex, lights, antennas and radar — and the headsail furling foil are all at risk.

The solution

HELPER Mastlift is a lightweight anodised-aluminium adapter that slides into the mast's sail groove and locks at the desired lifting height near the masthead; the best lifting point is around 2–2.5 metres below the top. With the lifting point above the centre of gravity, the mast stays under control and upright throughout the lift — with no risk of tipping or dropping. Safety improves significantly on both single- and multi-spreader masts.

The adapter fits almost all typical aluminium masts with a sail-groove width of 4.5 – 8 mm, regardless of the sail feeder gate. It does not fit in-mast furling masts (the mainsail furls inside the mast), as they have no sail groove. Setup is fast and needs no tools or separate bolts — the ropes and snap shackles already on board are usually all you need.

Benefits

No tipping risk on single-spreader boats
No incorrect loading of sail halyards or fittings
No more lifting with slings under the spreaders, or other imaginative, high-risk lifting methods
Masthead equipment and the headsail furling foil stay protected
Fast, tool-free setup
Can be left on the mast over winter and reused in spring with the same settings

The lifts in autumn 2025 and spring 2026 have drawn only positive feedback — from skippers and crane-truck operators alike.

Customer feedback

“Paraisten Venekeskus handles over a hundred mast-related jobs annually. Yesterday, we received a delivery of the ready-made “Mast Helper” product, and our experience with the first job using it was excellent. We believe that this product primarily enhances workplace safety when working with the boat yard’s own mast crane, and the fact that it also speeds up the work is certainly an added benefit.”
— Mikko Pasila, Paraisten VenekeskusParainen, Finland · 18 Sep 2026

“It worked really well — going forward, maybe the lift point could be set a little lower. On this mast, the centre of gravity is around the spreaders or even slightly below, which makes the bottom of the mast swinging free a real risk. Now that risk was gone, and the whole operation went smoothly with just two people, without any safety lines. Thanks!”
— Martti P.Espoo, Finland · 28 Sep 2026

Technical details (general)

Fits: typical aluminium masts, approx. 8–16 m in length
Sail-groove width: 4.5 – 8 mm
Does not fit: in-mast furling masts (the mainsail furls inside the mast), as they have no sail groove
Material: anodised aluminium
Maximum safe working load: 300 kg (load-tested)
CE marked

HELPER is a load-tested light lifting aid with a maximum safe working load of 300 kg. The product is CE marked.

Aluminium masts of 8–16 m typically weigh 60–200 kg, so the permitted load clearly exceeds the weight of the mast.

Mast-handling operations are always the responsibility of the boat owner/skipper.

Compatible boats

HELPER fits the masts of these boat models, among others:

OHLSON 29 (70 kg)
OHLSON 22
BAVARIA 30 (112 kg)
SUNWIND 27
SUNWIND 30
MAXI FENIX
GUY 33
COMFORTINA 32
MP 35
DRABANT 27 (76 kg)
INFERNO 31 (115 kg)
CB 33 (115 kg)
SCANMAR 345 (113 kg)
FINN EXPRESS 83
FINN FLYER 27
GUY 27
DEHLER 34
IOWAN 34
JEANNEAU ODYSSEY 33.3
BAVARIA 32 (117 kg)
ALBIN VEGA
SUNWIND 31
CENIT 33
FE 741
FINN 26
GUY 22
ARTINA 33
BAVARIA 34
H-323
COMFORT 30
HANSE 320
SWEDEN YACHTS 340
JEANNEAU SUN 2500
QUASAR 30
JOHNSON 26
JEANNEAU FANTASIA
DELPHIA 37

This list is based on real-world trials and is not exhaustive — HELPER fits virtually all typical aluminium masts with a sail-groove width of 4.5–8 mm.

HELPER does not fit the masts of these boat models:

DELPHIA 28
SCANMAR 40

Photos and videos

Traditional tipping mast lift from under the spreaders, four helpers — The traditional tipping method, from under the spreaders (10/3.5 m). Four helpers.

Mast lift with a fixed crane and the HELPER Mastlift adapter — With a fixed crane and the HELPER lifting adapter: 2 spreaders (12 m mast) and 2 people — mast up with no risk and no trouble.

HELPER Mastlift adapter in the mast sail groove — HELPER Mastlift needs no gate

Raising a mast with the HELPER Mastlift adapter — Raising a mast in progress

Adapter at the masthead — Windex and wind instrument stay protected — Masthead equipment — Windex and wind instrument — stays protected

HELPER Mastlift is in stock now. Ships immediately.

Buy in our online store

Order HELPER Mastlift directly from the RH-Craft online store.

Go to the online store →

The online store is hosted by Holvi.