There is a little clip on my mast to hook the furler on when it's not installed on the bowplate.  I connect the whole thing to the mast when raising and lowering.  I only have to carry the low end between the mast base and the bow.
Hopefully that makes sense.

On Thu, Jun 17, 2021, 11:23 PM Mike Riter <mike at traildesign.com> wrote:

> I have the GB mast raising/lowering system which allows me to hold the
> genoa in one hand and use the other for the crank while I lower the mast.
> It works the same for raising it. Doing it this way also allows me to move
> the genoa from one side or the other to compensate for any wind pushing
> against the mast while it goes up or down.
>
> Michael Riter
> SV Emma B
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 11:03 PM Gmorganflier <gmorgan.flier at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Before when I’ve lowered my mast, I’ve had someone help by handling the
> 175
> > Genoa and CDI furler.
> > Today while doing it myself, I basically let it slide along the deck as I
> > worked the crank on the winch. This didn’t work well. The Genoa got off
> to
> > the side on the spreader putting a lot of strain on the tube. I stopped
> > cranking and pulled the Genoa off the spreader and completely off the
> side
> > of the boat. After the mast was down, I realized the Genoa was not
> resting
> > in the cradle with the mast, but hanging from the top of the mast and
> > laying
> > beside the boat. (Not feeling very bright at this moment!) I really
> didn’t
> > want to raise the mast again, so, out of plywood I cut a small Y shaped
> > support, attached it to a long pole, and lifted the Genoa up into the
> > cradle.
> >
> > Those of you who do this by yourself…what’s your technique for
> controlling
> > the Genoa as you lower the mast so it remains aligned with the mast and
> not
> > resting way out on a spreader?
> >
> > Thanks for any advice,
> > George
> >
> >
> >
> > -----
> > George Morgan
> > S/V Knotty Lady 1986
> > Lake Waccamaw NC
> > --
> > Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
> >
>