Hi Everyone... I am planning on doing some upgrades and maintence that require me eitehr going up or preferably dropping my mast. I am leaving her in the water all winter and will not be taking her out at any point. Has anyone dropped their mast with the boat still in the water? Is this a safe practice? Is it possible? I recently read a post where someone used their boom vang up at the forestay to ease the mast down and back. This seems like the best method and the one that I would use to lower and raise it. I will have a few extra hands around to help me out as well. Thanks in advance! Mike
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Dropping The Mast
Mike-Lowering the mast is no problem if your in a slip. If your moored on the port or starboard beam it is to dangerous. It will take 3 people. One standing on the dock with his foot on the very front of the bow. He releases the forestay and replaces the pin back in the shackle. He fastens a line to that pin/shackle and wearing gloves will lower the mast aft after you disconnect the electric plug at the base of the mast as well as both foward shrouds. You then take the boom and slid the goose neck up the mast to where you can control the vertical lowering as you step backwards. The third person gives a slight pull on the aftstay to get a backward movement as the first person begins to release the line attached to the forestay. You step backwards and pass the boom to the third person who is standing at the cabin entrance. You inturn take hold of the mast while on the poptop and assist in lowering it as the boom is lowered. Note; If the boom is swung directly aft towards the stern, the third person can reach up with one hand and control the mast as it comes down to the stern rail. You release the thru bolt at the tabernacle and move the mast foreward to the bow pulpit. If you have a fourth person, have them put a foot on the mast at the tabernacle to help relieve the strain as the mast comes down. Good Luck
Mike-Lowering the mast is no problem if your in a slip. If your moored on the port or starboard beam it is to dangerous. It will take 3 people. One standing on the dock with his foot on the very front of the bow. He releases the forestay and replaces the pin back in the shackle. He fastens a line to that pin/shackle and wearing gloves will lower the mast aft after you disconnect the electric plug at the base of the mast as well as both foward shrouds. You then take the boom and slid the goose neck up the mast to where you can control the vertical lowering as you step backwards. The third person gives a slight pull on the aftstay to get a backward movement as the first person begins to release the line attached to the forestay. You step backwards and pass the boom to the third person who is standing at the cabin entrance. You inturn take hold of the mast while on the poptop and assist in lowering it as the boom is lowered. Note; If the boom is swung directly aft towards the stern, the third person can reach up with one hand and control the mast as it comes down to the stern rail. You release the thru bolt at the tabernacle and move the mast foreward to the bow pulpit. If you have a fourth person, have them put a foot on the mast at the tabernacle to help relieve the strain as the mast comes down. Good Luck
Thanks
Thanks for your method.... I have never lowered my mast and am stil a bit weary abotu it. I fortunatly have a dock and leave her starboard to.... If i tighten up the lines while we do thelowering is should reduce the motion of the boat while this is done. Thanks again...
Thanks for your method.... I have never lowered my mast and am stil a bit weary abotu it. I fortunatly have a dock and leave her starboard to.... If i tighten up the lines while we do thelowering is should reduce the motion of the boat while this is done. Thanks again...
Lowering the mast.
There have been a few references I've seen on the net to lowering/raising the mast on the water. I did see a method of lowering it to the bow so that the boat could pass underneath a bridge. I believed that this method had the sails and boom attached and that the mast was hinged forward with a pulley or block system attached to the backstay and the clew end of the boom. I have also seen a few other handy ideas. One is to use two poles attached at the upper shroud deck fittings. These two poles meet at a point at the forestay (when the mast is up)and attach to the Forestay wire. They help to steady the mast from side to side at a critical time in the lowering process. The forestay wire is also attached to a line and lowered by a person, a block assembly and/or a winch. Also there is a setup available called a mast step which attaches to the stern rudder gudgeons and is a telescoping metal pole with a seat at the top for the mast that helps raise/lower the mast up beyond the most difficult weighty period of the first 8 feet or so. It is available from Catalina Direct for about $150. A resourceful person could also make something very similar out of wood and other parts. When lowering to the stern, remember as advised that the only stays that really need to be removed are the lower forward shrouds and the forestay. Removing any others when dropping may result in a mast overboard. When lowering, make sure that the shrouds don't bind on the deck fittings and bend them or the turnbuckles.
There have been a few references I've seen on the net to lowering/raising the mast on the water. I did see a method of lowering it to the bow so that the boat could pass underneath a bridge. I believed that this method had the sails and boom attached and that the mast was hinged forward with a pulley or block system attached to the backstay and the clew end of the boom. I have also seen a few other handy ideas. One is to use two poles attached at the upper shroud deck fittings. These two poles meet at a point at the forestay (when the mast is up)and attach to the Forestay wire. They help to steady the mast from side to side at a critical time in the lowering process. The forestay wire is also attached to a line and lowered by a person, a block assembly and/or a winch. Also there is a setup available called a mast step which attaches to the stern rudder gudgeons and is a telescoping metal pole with a seat at the top for the mast that helps raise/lower the mast up beyond the most difficult weighty period of the first 8 feet or so. It is available from Catalina Direct for about $150. A resourceful person could also make something very similar out of wood and other parts. When lowering to the stern, remember as advised that the only stays that really need to be removed are the lower forward shrouds and the forestay. Removing any others when dropping may result in a mast overboard. When lowering, make sure that the shrouds don't bind on the deck fittings and bend them or the turnbuckles.
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