Easy way to completely remove 26M mast?

[Idiotfool]

In the event I want to take my 26M out to just power boat around the Florida Keys, how might I easily and safely remove my mast to store it at home while the boat takes on the waves? How would I then toss the mast back on to go sail on another weekend?

Anyone have experience in this?

[Tomfoolery]

I use an engine hoist with long rectangular tube plugged into it with a slip hook on the end, with two 45 lb Olympic plates on the back for counterweight. I rig some line to the mast centered on its CG, and just lift it off, rotate the hoist, and lower the mast to the ground.

I would just walk it off the back on the crutch roller, but my garage building is in the way. I then hang it off the ceiling in the garage on the diagonal with a pair of cheap block and fall setups.

It’s not that it’s heavy; it’s that I’m too old and weak to horse stuff like this around alone any more.

[NiceAft]

I had to do this last summer during a cruise.

It took two people (size makes it awkward), but it's not difficult.

Lower it,
Unbolt the head-stay.
Remove the bolt the base of the mast.
Undo all of the rigging's.
Make certain all lines are loose, unattached.
Secure everything, and get someone to help carry it away.
I am in my seventh decade, and my wife helped me. Not gentlemanly to reveal her age.

A gentleman always remembers his lady's birthday, but conveniently forgets which one it is.

[Piddle and Futz]

I did this recently, as well, to clean and polish the mast (and remove actual moss).

Doesn't weigh much but it is unwieldy.

I used 2 ladders, beside the boat forward and aft. Was able to place the foot on the forward ladder, then the head on the aft ladder. Easy repeat to bring the mast to ground once it is parallel to the boat. Reversed the process to get it back on.

[NiceAft]

I didn't have any ladders, I had to improvise.

My wife lifted the end off of the arch while I stood on the dock and grabbed it. After placing it on the dock, I went back on the deck and tied a Bowline on the base of the mast and lowered it to the dock. Ladders are probably easier.

[DaveC426913]

Lower it,
Unbolt the head-stay.

In that order?

What's your head-stay made of? Rubber bands?

[NiceAft]

Lower it,
Unbolt the head-stay.

In that order?

What's your head-stay made of? Rubber bands?

OOPS Obviously not.

[BOAT]

If you have a really long driveway like I do you just walk it back. Put a ladder about 10 - 15 feet behind the boat and start walking the mast back. As soon as the mast end passes the tabernacle it goes from a lift to a holding it down. Let the mast rest on the ladder and the crutch. Get off the boat and go to the other end of the mast and walk it back the rest of the way from there side stepping the ladder - you don't need the ladder anymore. When the last couple feet of mast is in the crutch set the other end mast you have been walking on the ground, (again, side step the ladder if it's still there - don't put the mast on the ladder - learned the hard way on that one) You want the mast one end on the ground and the other end in the crutch so your standing a good 30 feet behind the boat now. Go back on the boat and lift the end of the mast out of the crutch and lower it down off to the side of the transom with a rope.

It's been a while but if you get the ladder in the right place it's actually pretty easy.

[OverEasy]

When we took the mast off fir our recent trip I did it single handed (with my Admiral on Emergency stand by ).

Started on level driveway without boat on trailer.
Removed all lines, stays, spreaders and secured to mast with multiple bungee cords.
Removed bow bracket bolt and tied loosely with loop of rope off to the sid I would be removing mast to.
Placed 10 step ladder on ground near the stern side mast would be removed to.
Lifted mast off pedestal support and placed on top of step ladder. Secured with bungee cord loop so to wouldn’t fall off.
Got off boat carefully swung ladder and mast way from boat until mast would clear boat side.
Got back on boat, went to bow, tied on sufficient length of rope to lower end of mast over side to ground using bow rail as leverage.
Got back down off boat, went to ladder tied rope to mast and carefully lowered mast to ground.
Accepted the thunderous applause of the Admiral with a gracious bow with flourish

Then we both lugged it to the side of the garage and hung it up.

We figure installation will have a similar process but in reverse (except for the applauding and bows ).

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Idiotfool]

...Then we both lugged it to the side of the garage and hung it up.

We figure installation will have a similar process but in reverse (except for the applauding and bows ).

Best Regards
Over Easy

How big is your garage? In my area they don't make garages deeper than 20 feet.

[Jimmyt]

Roughly 50x35. Bought a cheap lot with a lot of slope. Got a free garage with my very expensive foundation...



I would suggest labeling your shroud adjusters before removing them. You may still have to untangle them when putting the mast back on but it should be easier if you're not trying to figure out what goes where. The forestay should be obvious, so no label required..

I've never done the pure powerboat configuration. Prefer to sail if there is any breeze. Will motor with mast up if not. If doing a canal, or other long motoring trip, I would probably pull the mast, though.

Mac26Mpaul used to have a YouTube video of himself pulling the mast single-handed. He evidently removed all of his content though. As I recall, he did it without much trouble. Pity his content is gone. He and his family videos played a large part it my choice of a Mac power sailer. Boat was named Little Annie...

[Tomfoolery]

How big is your garage? In my area they don't make garages deeper than 20 feet.

But the diagonal is much larger, by the square root of 2 in fact (assuming 20 x 20). I hang mine from the ceiling of my 2-car on the diagonal.

The mast for an is 28 ft, which means it would fit inside a 20 x 20 ft garage, though not by a lot. My garage is bigger than that, but I have shelves on one side, and the mast just misses the inner-most OH door support bracket at the other end, so there's actually a lot of real estate up there I haven't tapped.

[OverEasy]

Hi JimmyT!

I must admit to a severe case of garage size envy!
It would be SO nice to have interior storage and sheltered boat work space!
Nice!

Best Regards
Over Easy