Cutting away shrouds if mast goes down

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Deac Manross

If the worst happened and the mast comes down and has to be cut away, what would any of you use to cut the mast free? Those thick strands of (stainless?) shroud wire look pretty tough to cut through. And then, there are those angled topside solid struts that could be tricky to get rid of if they were 'in a bind' (assuming they didn't go plunging through the coach roof :) . Any ideas? Always thinking safety scenarios here on Lake Erie.
 
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Jim willis

When I did my trip....

I took lots of spare rigging wire, fittings, spare halyards, sail repair kit AND a heavy duty cutter for wire rigging, also a swage-lock tool for making up new rigging, jury rigs etc. However, strong, newish rigging and a foam-filled mast are even better. JimW
 
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John Miller

There are several options

available for cutting wire. Some of them I would not consider given the conditions that ma cause the stick to fall. Hammer cutter under 50$ but not something I would use on a boat. Hydraulic cutter, very powerful, easy to use but the pump and handle are connected to the cutter with about 6 feet of hose. About 350$ Shell Cutter, Operates with a blank pistol cartridge. Cuts large wire and rod. Very fast, easy to use one handed once it is loaded. Don't know the price. Long handled wire cutters. Cheap ones mash the wire between two blades and are hard to use on rigging wire but work fine on mild steel. These cutters can be purchased at home sullpy outlets for under $100. Several makes of high quality cutters can handle wire up to 3/8 inch for under $200. The higher quality cutters operate like heavy shears and always have a notch in the blade that contain the wire that is being cut. Hacksaw with fine blade (32 to 40 teeth per inch) works great if you tape the wire and put it in a vice to hold it still. Not something I want to try if the stick just fell. Cutting disks in a grinder/drill will work but is not something I want to try on a wet pithcing deck. So it all boils down to your budget and desire for ease of use. For my personal taste I plan to purchase a Felco C12 long handled wire cutter. I just need to make sure the Admiral can use them. I may need to buy the C16 just to get the leverage necessary for her to cut the wire. The C12 (about $170) will cut up to 3/8 wire and the C16 (about $270) will cut 1/2" wire. What ever you wind up with on your boat, be sure you add a safety tether to the tool as soon as you get it. Fair Winds.
 
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Bob Zolczer

I've got bolt cutters

Never had to use them, but keep them boeshielded and in a locker. The tether/lanyard is a good idea I hadn't thought of. If they don't give a clean cut immediately, my guess is that adrenalin will help me get through the shrouds.
 
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John Dorsett

Deac

I know this is off subject but I have a 356 here in Texas, A friend of mine has an Henderson 30 he is thinking of taking to the Mackenaw Race (sp?) anyone thinking of doing this race ? John
 
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Clyde

How much do you want to spend?

The chance that you're going to lose a mast is pretty slim if you regularly inspect and replace your rigging as needed and sail conservatively in bad weather. Wire cutters, bolt cutters and other cutting tools should be items you normally carry in your onboard tool kit. As previously stated in earlier replies, you can spend anywhere from less then $20 to more than $400 for a shroud cutter. The top of the line shroud cutter is the "Toolova", it using ammunition cartridges to cut shrouds and stays. You don't need physical strength to use it. The ammunition cartridges are linked so you can rapidly cut away shrouds and stays. If money is no object and you want to be prepared for any possible contingencies, no matter how remote, you can buy one from Pyacht. I also saw one for sale in the Latitude 38 classified for $300 awhile ago, the owner said he never used it. Fair Winds. Clyde
 
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Chuck Wayne

cutting stays

after a lot of research, and testing, I went for the toolova shootit-from Pyacht-about $400(?) but the only solution that seemed feasible on a pitching deck-the other solutions require time and two hands-which you don't have! On the 356 and larger, the stays are large enough that it takes brute strength, even with the largest cable cutters-the only way I could get thru a test piece of wire was to prop the cutters on the deck, and lean into it with both hands and my body weight-not a solution in a storm! I also tested hacksaw, power grinder, etc. the hydraulic cutters are supposed to work, but again they need two hands-and are heavy maintenance. think of the shootit as a lifetime investment
 
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Bryce Grefe

tube cutters

Read an article recently written by a female sailor that espoused a tubing cutter. Although I haven't tried it, it seems to make sense. Inexpensive, easy to use, reasonably fast and you don't have to be a muscled jock to use it. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
 
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David Foster

Cable Cutters

seem OK for the 3/16's stays on our h27. Seated with a harness and tether is probably good enough to free both hands. David Lady Lillie
 
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Deac Manross

Tube cutters?

What do you mean by tube cutters? Like pipe cutters that go round and round incrementally cutting the pipe? Do you really think they could cut through the 5/8+ inch braided stainless shrouds of a 356?
 
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charles hubbard

leatherman

i have never been dismasted, thank god, but in the case i ever am my plan was to use a leatherman to jerk the cotter pins and beat the pin that holds the rigging to the chainplate out. i don't know if anyone has tried this, but $400.00 goes along way towards making sure it never happens.
 
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chet p

DEAC M ..5/8 STAINLESS???????????????????????

ARE ALL YOUR STAYS 5/8 STAINLESS ON A 356 HUNTER????????????????...I GUESS YOURS IS MORE OVERBUILT THAN ANY I HAVE SEEN....
 
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Deac Manross

stainless

Well, damn !! Maybe I didn't look close enough but it sure looked/felt like it was stainless. That's why I was so concerned as to how to CUT thru that.. But maybe they just gave it a nice extra polish at the factory and fooled my gullible self:) !!!!
 
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David

Deac

I don't think you mean 5/8" shrouds and I don't think you mean braided!
 
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Chuck Wayne

356 stays

Give Deac a break! emergency preparedness is something we all need to pay attention to, and dismastings do happen. the largest stays on our 356 rig are 5/16, 1x19 stainless wire (yes, it is stainless) and it's really tough to cut. using a leatherman to pull the cotter pins and then beat out the clevis pins (and you've got 7 to do)on a heaving deck, covered with whipping wires and flogging sail remains, while the mast is trying to pound a hole in your boat to save $400 is a value judgement you're welcome to make!
 
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