Mast Lowering-Yam 25 MkII

Jul 17, 2012
49
Yamaha Yamaha 25 MkII Annapolis
Do you any of you Yam 25 owners have experience with lowering the mast? Any tips as to how I should go about doing this? Assume that the boat is in the water, tied up in the slip. many thanks.
 

Joe

.
Jun 1, 2004
8,198
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
If you have a tabernacle mast plate (i.e. hinged), the recent discussions regarding gin poles and other mast raising systems would be helpful.

If you have a non-hinged mast base... where the pole must be lifted to be disengaged from it base, then I suggest the "A" frame method. Here's a link to a dubious quality reproduction of the article. http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21230&d=1233001287
 
Jan 4, 2008
149
Yamaha Y25 mkII Long Beach, Ca.
Mast work

Hey Alturaam, timely post!
My plans this year was to haul out and drop the mast for some much needed head work. Unfortunately my year has not gone as planned. The Yamaha manual states (3a)"install the bolt and cotter pin" (5) "One person will push up the mast and another will help him by pulling the head stay".
I'm not so sure it's going to be that easy.
Having stepped quite a few dingy / catamaran sticks the Y25 extrusion is pretty hefty. I'd look into researching gin pole systems (lots of pics on the internet). As for trying to do it in the water keep in mind you don't want any side loads and you can loose control pretty quickly bouncing in the water. Losing control can damage the spar beyond repair and a new spar will probably cost you more than you paid for the boat not to mention if it lands on a neighbors boat!
Call me chicken...... but my plan is to have the yard pull it when I have the boat hauled. It'll be some $$$ but if you have everything ready to pull, shroud wise, it shouldn't take much time as the crane is generally an hourly rate. Better Safe than Sorry. Of course I haven't checked rates yet...... that plan may change also.

If your just working on mast fly, lights ,vhf . I climb the mast , not fun but doable. I use a mast mate ladder if solo. boson's chair is better.

my 2cents ..... maybe a nickel
Syntonos
 
Jan 4, 2008
149
Yamaha Y25 mkII Long Beach, Ca.
Pro vs. DIY

Stopped by my local shipyard in Long Beach Ca. to get a quote on pulling the stick.
$125 USD out - $125 USD in (crane = $250 hour)

Yard says it generally takes 15min in and out if properly prepped (1/2 hr minimum rate)

You do the rigging / sling and prep securing shrouds etc. Yard only providing the crane (liability stuff ).

Yard storage $15 day

That's one quote from here in So California USA.

Here is a link on how its done.
http://theriggingco.com/2014/02/11/un-stepping-the-mast/

cheers.
 
Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
Alt,

Not a Yahama, but you might be interested in how we routinely raise and lower our mast on our Nor'Sea 27. We use the boom, a long main sheet and a set of 4 truck tie-down straps as a bridal. You can see it in our short Youtube video at;
https://youtu.be/1dIZQMgnE58
Look to it around the 5 min mark.

Greg
 
Jul 17, 2012
49
Yamaha Yamaha 25 MkII Annapolis
Hey Alturaam, timely post!
My plans this year was to haul out and drop the mast for some much needed head work. Unfortunately my year has not gone as planned. The Yamaha manual states (3a)"install the bolt and cotter pin" (5) "One person will push up the mast and another will help him by pulling the head stay".
I'm not so sure it's going to be that easy.
Having stepped quite a few dingy / catamaran sticks the Y25 extrusion is pretty hefty. I'd look into researching gin pole systems (lots of pics on the internet). As for trying to do it in the water keep in mind you don't want any side loads and you can loose control pretty quickly bouncing in the water. Losing control can damage the spar beyond repair and a new spar will probably cost you more than you paid for the boat not to mention if it lands on a neighbors boat!
Call me chicken...... but my plan is to have the yard pull it when I have the boat hauled. It'll be some $$$ but if you have everything ready to pull, shroud wise, it shouldn't take much time as the crane is generally an hourly rate. Better Safe than Sorry. Of course I haven't checked rates yet...... that plan may change also.

If your just working on mast fly, lights ,vhf . I climb the mast , not fun but doable. I use a mast mate ladder if solo. boson's chair is better.

my 2cents ..... maybe a nickel
Syntonos
Thanks very much for the advice there, Syntonos. My Yam 25II is on the hard as of yesterday. I am having a depthmeter installed as the thin water of the Chesapeake reminds me all too often.
 
Jan 4, 2008
149
Yamaha Y25 mkII Long Beach, Ca.
depth meter - easy fix.....fishfinder

If they haven't cut the hole yet I'd buy a GPS with depth/fish finder. I use a Lowrance elite 5 DSI ( I think that is the model). it can shoot through the hull and give you an excellent profile of the bottom. The imaging is not picture image ,it degrades a bit through the hull but is clear bottom profile. prior to mounting, place the tranponder in a plastic bag full of water to see the image. Once satisfied with the image / location epoxy it to the hull. Mine it mounted in the small access cover next to the head. Make a small dam around the transponder and fill with the 2 part epoxy.... works great. I'll be on the boat later this week and post some pics.
 
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Epoxy is a tough way to do an in hull! Toilet bowl wax, plumbers putty works well and I use silicone. With epoxy you better hope you don't EVER need to remove it! Chief
 
Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
If they haven't cut the hole yet I'd buy a GPS with depth/fish finder. I use a Lowrance elite 5 DSI ( I think that is the model). it can shoot through the hull and give you an excellent profile of the bottom. The imaging is not picture image ,it degrades a bit through the hull but is clear bottom profile. prior to mounting, place the tranponder in a plastic bag full of water to see the image. Once satisfied with the image / location epoxy it to the hull. Mine it mounted in the small access cover next to the head. Make a small dam around the transponder and fill with the 2 part epoxy.... works great. I'll be on the boat later this week and post some pics.
PLEASE, NO Epoxy! Take a look at our web page (http://www.svguenevere.com/prep/proj/depth/ ) to see how ours shoots through our hull.

Greg
 
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Thats beautifully done Greg! If only these people who keep asking would look at that web page! Chief
 
Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
Thats beautifully done Greg! If only these people who keep asking would look at that web page! Chief
Thanks Chief,

Did that back in 1993. Posted the page some time around 1996 +/-.

Greg
 
Jan 4, 2008
149
Yamaha Y25 mkII Long Beach, Ca.
Knowing where your bottom is

Attached are some images produced by my Lowrance GPS chartplotter / fish finder. I guess you would consider it using Sonar to detect bottom depth. Not only does it allow you to see the bottom it allows you to display knots, voltage etc.,etc. base on GPS. If you have a compatible VHF radio it can send your co-ordinates automatically if you are in distress.
This technology use to only be within the reach of megayacht owners - now it within reach of us little guys. Learning to trust what your seeing is easy. Just find a sandy beach and test it!
I prefer the Garmin software of my old 176c but my old eyes needed the improved screen resolution of the newer models. When it came time to upgrade the Lowrance unit was a no brainer cost wise at the time.
I still have my Signets Knot /Depth meters. installation pic is old on left-new on right.
As for the use of epoxy, that is an installation instruction with emphasis on NO air bubbles as the transducer needs 100% contact to work properly. That is where the trick of using the water filled plastic bag mentioned earlier in the thread. I was a skeptic too.
Regarding removal - I have a grinder. Easier to remove the transponder than filling in those big holes where the Signet displays are mounted.

With all these gizmos inside the boat remember to look outside the boat once in a while, You may miss something important!
 

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Last edited:
Jul 17, 2012
49
Yamaha Yamaha 25 MkII Annapolis
Re: Knowing where your bottom is

Sorry for the delayed response. Mine will be a combo knot and depthmeter, though not as nice as that one (the Lowrance).

Flew my symmetrical spin solo for the first time 2 weekends ago. Very light wind 3-5 kts, so as to not magnify mistakes. One launch with spin bag on the bow, 3 gybes, one douse straight into the companionway.