DIY mast drop

[Brian]

I have a 26' Annapolis in need of a wind vane and VHF antenna, and am considering dropping the mast myself. Here's the plan... Remove the boom, make a 16' rig with 2x4's and fasten it to the mast low (below where the boom went), loosen the other stays a little, hook the backstay to the other end of the rig to drop it forward, and putting a line from the aft cleats to the aft end of the rig to control the drop. My mast is unhinged, so I'd probably need a line from the front cleat to the bottom of the mast to keep it from moving aft in the process. I don't think the mast weighs more than about 200lbs--is this a good guess? Any further guidance will be appreciated... Thanks!

 

[Mel Elliott]

I'm not familiar with your boat, but that seems awfully heavy for a mast for a 26' boat.The mast for my Mac26D weighs about 50# including halyards cleats etc. It's a snap to lower and raise with a block on the forestay. It is hinged however. go slow, check things often.

 

[TedsSailingPage]

Lower the mast - don't drop it.

Usually masts are designed to lower towards the stern. If you lower it towards the bow, it might break the tablenackle. So, check out the fitting that secures the mast to the deck to see what your options are.Your mast should weight about 75-100 lbs. The problem is that it will have a mechanical advantage over you as it gets lowered.Usually, you only need a rig of about 8-10 feet to gain enough mechanical advantage over the mast. Check the distance from the mast base to the jib tack, that will give you an idea of how much rig space you have. Anything larger will probably become an obstruction.You should seek some assistance as well, it sounds like you have not lowered a mast before.Regards,Ted