Unstepping an S2 7.0 Mast

[davidra]

Good Afternoon!
I recently purchased an S2 7.0 (1975) shoal draft model. The hull and interior are in great shape. Unfortunately, both the jib and main halyards are missing. Obviously I want to unstep the mast to inspect it and also to repace the internal halyards. Mast is stepped on the cabin top and has pins at the step plate to allow the mast to be taken down. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
David

 

[BobM]

Dropping the mast

There are a ton of videos on Youtube. Look for something where you can use the forestay in lieu of a halyard like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJqcJxRn4rw

Rig something at the base for a gin pole. These guys used a piece of wood, but you don't need a separate winch.

I clipped a snatch block forward and ran a line to an aft winch. Rather than fit something to the base of the mast, I built an A frame out of 1" electrical conduit by hammering the ends flat 90 off from each other. I bolted them together at one and and the other ends were fitted to my forward chain plates (my boat had twin lowers). I then drilled two holes on the forward tubes near the tip. I put in one eye up and one eye down. Rig a temporary stay. Secure the winch line to the bottom one and the forestay to the top one. Remove the temporary stay and have someone guide the mast down.

The most dangerous time is when the mast is nigh perpendicular and I suggest you have a second person at the mast to get it moving quickly in the right direction and have the winch person just use a wrap or two on the winch to just slip the line out...fairly quickly at first.

I dropped the 30 foot mast on my L25 on the water using this rig. Warning, if you have a roller furler this approach may not work, but you can use the aft stay to drop it forward in a similar fashion.

Alternately, have the marina drop it for you. For such a small boat with a hinged mast they should do it for about $100 each way.[/QUOTE].

 

[davidra]

Thank You!

Thank you very much for your detailed response! It will be very helpful!

There are a ton of videos on Youtube. Look for something where you can use the forestay in lieu of a halyard like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJqcJxRn4rw

Rig something at the base for a gin pole. These guys used a piece of wood, but you don't need a separate winch.

I clipped a snatch block forward and ran a line to an aft winch. Rather than fit something to the base of the mast, I built an A frame out of 1" electrical conduit by hammering the ends flat 90 off from each other. I bolted them together at one and and the other ends were fitted to my forward chain plates (my boat had twin lowers). I then drilled two holes on the forward tubes near the tip. I put in one eye up and one eye down. Rig a temporary stay. Secure the winch line to the bottom one and the forestay to the top one. Remove the temporary stay and have someone guide the mast down.

The most dangerous time is when the mast is nigh perpendicular and I suggest you have a second person at the mast to get it moving quickly in the right direction and have the winch person just use a wrap or two on the winch to just slip the line out...fairly quickly at first.

I dropped the 30 foot mast on my L25 on the water using this rig. Warning, if you have a roller furler this approach may not work, but you can use the aft stay to drop it forward in a similar fashion.

Alternately, have the marina drop it for you. For such a small boat with a hinged mast they should do it for about $100 each way.

. [/quote]