Patent ID: 11858590
Assignee: nan
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method for stepping and unstepping a mast, the method comprising steps of:
installing a trailer hitch extension insert of a mast righting assistance assembly into a hitch receiver assembled to a vehicle, the mast righting assistance assembly comprising:
a trailer hitch extension subassembly including the trailer hitch extension insert extending in a first longitudinal direction and a trailer hitch extension receiver tube extending in a second, opposite longitudinal direction,
a winch carried by the trailer hitch extension subassembly,
a generally vertically oriented column extending upwards from the trailer hitch extension subassembly,
a winch cable arranged to be spooled onto and unspooled from a drum operated by the winch, and
a winch cable redirecting component attached to an upper region of the generally vertically oriented column,
wherein the mast is pivotally assembled to a sailboat, wherein the sailboat is seated upon a trailer, wherein a tongue of the trailer is attached to a trailer hitch, wherein the trailer hitch is assembled to the trailer hitch extension receiver tube of the trailer hitch extension subassembly;

routing the winch cable from the drum, redirected via the winch cable redirecting component and secured to a free end of a mast control line, an opposite, attached end of the mast control line being secured to an upper region of the mast;
in a mast stepping process, a length of the winch cable is collected onto the drum causing the mast to rise; and
in a mast unstepping process, a length of the winch cable is unspooled from the drum causing the mast to lower.