First time un-steping mast

[Joel H.]

I'm ending my first season with my 1978 C27. I plan on overhauling the mast this winter so I'm dropping it during the haul out. The boat has a Harkin head sail furler. I've been reading the owners manual but I'm interested in tips anybody might have on handling the furler and foils during the un-steping process. That long thin aluminum extrusion looks vary vulnerable!
Thanks in advance for any replies,
Joel H.

 

[caguy]

Fortunately the C27 does not need the fore stay to hold the mast in place. After removing the drum the foils unsection one at a time. The torques need to be removed before the for stay can pass through the foil. A small pair of vise-grips can be use to hold the rest of the foils in place as you work on removing the first one and so on.
When you lower the mast a bridal can be clamped to the upper middle shrouds to stabilize it while you lower it. You will also want to apply some stays to the boom. I used sheets running from the end of the boom through the fair leads and back to the winches. This made it easy to adjust the stays as I slowly released the boom and lowered the mast. Once it is set up it is easy to lower or raise the mast slowly and safely. I had to rig up an extension ladder in the back of my truck to support the mast when it is down. There is tool much weight for the pulpit to support alone. You will need to disconnect the back stays and rear lower shrouds when you are ready.
I was alone when I did mine and got through it safely.

 

[shipwreck66]

Gutsy caguy. I remember on my C22, which had the really thick mast, one of our knows-all-about-all boat guys claimed that the two of us could easily lower the mast, he was wrong. Luckily we have a tower crane here for the big boats, makes the work so much easier.

 

[caguy]

Trust me, if I had a crane I would not be doing it myself.

 

[Joel H.]

I was thinking more of how to handle everything while leaving the furler/foils on. I'm only planning to replace the shrouds and backstay, wiring, lights, spreaders sockets, and check the shivs. Is laying the mast down with the foils still in place a bad Idea?
Thanks, Joel H.

 

[caguy]

I would leave them attached and let them hang and suport them as the mast is lowered. I wouldn't leave it up to them to support them unless you really trust them.
You may want to inspect the forestay for chafe inside the foils once it is down.

 

[Joel H.]

Thanks for the replies, Caguy. I'm thinking sail ties to tie it to the mast at intervals as it lowers to horz. Once its down I'll investigate sliding it off the forestay. If it's easy I'll replace that too.