best way to mark everything when dropping the mast on hunter 28.5

[jimambrose]

I am a new sailboat owner, 85 Hunter 28.5,...(been a power boater for 35 years). Got hooked on sailing a few years ago and bought the Hunter when I retired last fall.

It is a beauty. I have to take it from Seneca lake thru the canal under bridges over to Cayuga Lake, two of the beautiful Finger Lakes in New York. I have a marina that will drop the mast at the north end of Seneca and one to re step the mast at the north end of Cayuga, but looking at all the rigging, ( and the former owner had the mast "tuned") , I am a bit overwhelmed at the idea of undoing everything, securing it to the boat and re stepping and getting everything right on the other end. I am told the marina's will do the lifting but I have to do all the un rigging and rigging.

Is this as huge a deal as it sounds and what are the tips, best ways, etc, to do this?

 

[Tim22]

Not a big deal. Get a loos gauge and record the tension of each stay before dropping the mast. Also, use a halyard as a plumb line to measure any mast rake. Use the same halyard pulled taught between the mast head and foot to check for mast bend. Now, when you re step the mast you will be able to restore it to its former state relatively easily.

Tim

 

[Richard Bryer]

Tim is right- not that big a deal- I take the mast down and put it up each year. I have never used a tension gauge, can tell by feel. Do check for vertical by using the main halyard first to one side then the other. If yours is a B&R rig, check the bend before putting it back up. Max bend ( distance from center to straight line) should be 1" per 10ft of length- ie if 40 feet long bend should measure 4 inches, Create the bend by tightening the diagonals that come from the spreader tips.

 

[Don Crowther]

You could also mark all the turn buckles with tape or nail polish. That would have all your present tensions marked and you would only have to tighten up to the marks when you step the mast at the other end of your trip.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Are they transporting the mast over land or are you carrying it with you? I built temporary crutches fore and aft when I unstepped mine. Bag and label loose hardware. Remove mast top indicators, and don't forget to put them back on!

 

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