mast step

[michael]

I am looking for information about "dropping" my mast for sevice ie.. new wire for anchor light steaming light, shives ect... any input would be helpfull

 

[Randy]

I dropped my mast 2 years ago.

I had my mast dropped 2 years ago by a guy who had a boom truck...don't think you could do it by hand. I just loosened up the shrouds until he got a grip on the boom right under the spreaders. I then undid all the shrouds and steadied the lower part of the mast as he slowly raised it upwards about a foot. I was then able to cut the wiring for the old mast lighting, anchor lights, etc. I replaced the wiring, wiring plug and it all works like a charm. The sheaves are easily accessible. The brackets for my wooden spreaders was welded on and so, I reworked the wooden spreaders even though I had a set of aluminum spreaders with their brackets. I just did not want to tackle the job of cutting the old brackets off. Hope yours goes as smoothly as mine did.

 

[Randy]

drop it every year

Michael,I drop my mast every year. I've also re-wired masts before too. Do you have access to a mast crane or will you need to use a boom truck or crane?Tie a large loop in a piece of line around the mast. Put the end of the loop in the schackle for the hoist. Slowly lift the loop till it is somewhat snug under the spreaders. Have someone hold it steady at the step. loosen and undo one set of shrouds ie port or starboard. You don't need to loosen the others side then just undo them. Undo the back stay. Then the forestay. If you have roller furling ensure someone guides the furler. Hold all other stays together at the mast. Slowly lift the mast off the step guiding the bottom of the mast whereever you need to go as you lower it.When you rewire, I simply attached the new wire to the old wire and as you pull the old wire out the new wire takes it place.Randy

 

[AXEL]

Lower mast

I lower my mast every year. I installed a tabernackle on my '77 C30 #641 last year and it works great. I also rewired the mast. To run new wire thru the mast you can use the old wire, just attach a piece of rope to the end and feed it thru. Or you can use the backstay. Take it off the mast, it's stiff enough to feed it thru, attach a piece of rope to it. I ran all the wired in 2 sections thru pipe insulation to keep things from slapping inside the mast. I also run the wires outside the mast about a foot upfrom the mast step. I've attached a plastic bud box (buy them at Radio Shack). In the box I use a termial strip. Wires from the mast go to the strip. You can install a electrical conn. (from West Marine) and go thru the cabin top. I've done this but always had problems in the past. This time I just run the wires thru in a neat bundle and chalked with 5200. Then attach to the terminal stip.