Mast removal / electrical ground

Jun 2, 2004
128
Has anyone used a gin pole to unstep the vega mast? I have an old
dinghy mast in my garage that should make a good pole once I fix a
support plate to the bottom. Questions: what does the mast weigh
(about), is the base of the mast heavy enough to keep her near
verticle as she is unstepped or will the head of the mast swing
down. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Also, there is a copper (I think) grounding strap afixed inside the
mast and then led into the head compartment and forward to a through
bolted grounding plate on the stb side. I'm guessing this is for
lightning protection, or possibly a ground for the VHF. Do all vegas
have this grounding plate?

Tom
vega "398"
 
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Tom

Most of the Vegas in Holland have to use a tabernacle because of the low bridges that abound. This system can be bought in Holland or the UK. They come as a tabernacle, A Frame and fittings. Made from 6mm 316 stainless.

Never heard of an earthing strip or grounding plate being used in the mast, this has been added at a later date.

Kind Regards

Steve Birch Vega "Southenr Comfort" V1703
 
Jan 28, 2001
694
I don't know about using a gin pole to take the mast down. When we took
Lyrics down we borrowed the halyards of the the boats on either side.
Hoisted blocks to their mastheads and lowered our mast with llines from
them. One person can lift the mast and move it in the horizontal position
but it is easier with two. The plate sounds like a grounding system for
lighting. We did something similiar ours. Walt