Lowering spar on H25
Clyde, it is a hunk of aluminum, hollow, with some stuff on it. It weighs less than you think.
The 29-ft-long mast on my H25 weighs 66+/- lbs. I lowered it with the help of two of my 11th-grade students and an obliging porch-roof frame on the building directly ahead of the boat. The biggest hassle-- though we did not realize it at the time-- was that the aluminum was corroded after X number of years in the NJ Shore's salt air and would not part from the stainless-steel mast step. We had all the stays off and loose and were football-blocking it to free it. Honestly-- it was hard to believe then too.
When I got it off the boat my then-13-year-old daughter was on hand and I asked her if she could lift one end of this. Next I know she has it on her shoulder and it's starting off the blocks without me. I have since carried it several times by myself. The question of course is in finding a balancing point.
I hauled it up from the ground to put it onto the deck by myself, prior to the boat being trucked out of there. It was a lot of block-and-tackle work and scratching of the topsides (which needed painting anyway) and I finally called to a guy in the yard to push it up to me.
Of course the spar had no rigging attached when I've picked it up myself and the winches were taken off. It's a different story when it's fully rigged, with a furler, and all.
I would not recommend that you attempt to take down the spar without a crane. Your spar is like 32-34 feet high and your rigging is heavier. If you have a furler it's even worse as an idea. Where I am the marina will take down your spar for $125. They are insured and provide all the muscle and know-how. This is pocket money when you consider the alternative. Find someone like this and breathe easy.
Of course, if you do choose to go it on your own, please be considerate of the rest of us boaties and ensure there are no boats you don't want to pay to fix within about 40 feet of you. Thanks! :dance: