pulling the mast

[peislander]

I need to pull the mast on Dalliance, my 365 ketch, and I've never done it. There is no yard or riggers where I'm located
so I have to do it myself with the help of friends. I will hire a crane of course, but is there anything
I need to be aware of? Any, and all, advice appreciated.
al holman

[Tilikum]

Hi Al,

Basically it is easy, as long as you go straight up avoiding the bulkhead. However, make sure the mast is not "frozen" into the foot. Soak it well with WD 40. Hope it helps. I had to undo the bolts of the foot, lift the mast a meter and hit the foot of with a serious hammer. Re-stepping the mast is a matter of having the foot on the right place and make sure it comes down vertically, not scratching the bulkhead or mast itself.

Good luck,

John

[Dale Tanski]

Al,

I agree with the scratch the bulkhead thing.  A small sheet of scrap plywood behind the mast against the bulkhead is helpful.  At the very least a section of carpet works.  My wiring feed through hole is on the back side of the spar.  It is difficult to get the wires in or out.  The worst part is if you have t stick you arm up there to untangle a snarl.  Yeks!

Disconnecting the triasic stay from the top of the main mast to the mizzen is also interesting.  The access to the pin at the main mast is very limited. I have reversed ours so the top of the main stays put and the mizzen end is the one that is disconnected as it is much easier and accessable.

Dale

[Jim Cozy]

We do 50+ masts, in every spring, out every fall, all with a hand-crank winch. Nothing to fear if you are careful. In addition to the above good advice:
1- Go slow and always have someone in the companionway to relay info from the guy down below.
2- Get the wedges out before you start the lift.
3- My wiring exits the mast through a hole in the starboard side. The mast with wires alongside is a tight fit through the partners. It helps (especially when stepping) to keep some tension (pull down) on the wires to prevent bunching as the mast comes through the hole.
4- It helps to have two guys guiding the mast onto the step. A little bit of muscle/beef helps position it as it approaches the step.
5- As mentioned above, KEEP THE MAST VERTICLE.
6- Go slow!

Hope this helps. Jim

[peislander]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the advice. I hadn't thought about scratching the bulkhead,
though did wonder a bit about squeezing the wiring through the cabin top. Dale, you
mention the triatic stay and letting it go from the mizzen. This what I'd planned to do,
but if I read you correctly, there may be a problem with the mast head fitting on the
mizzen mast. Or am I creating a problem in my mind that doesn't exist in reality?
ah

[Dale Tanski]

The easy fitting to get at is the mizzen fitting that one shouldn't be a problem.  Getting the fitting out of the main masthead at least on my boat is a real pain in the butt.  In our case we step the mizzen off of the main mast and remove it that way as well.  So with the mizzen mast leaning into/against the main mast connecting or disconnecting that upper triatic stay is much simpler.

Dale

[peislander]

Thanks Dale,
I like that. I was planning on going up the mizzen, but now that you point it out,
that doesn't make a lot of sense. Thanks,
ah