How to de-rig a mast??

[adamgodfrey]

I am having difficulty finding a rigger to derig a boat that I am hoping to have transported by road next week. A crane is available to remove the mast. Can anyone advise how easy it is to derig the boat ourselves?
She is a 30 ft yacht. Is it a case of removing the boom, and genoa. Then loosening the stays etc, disconnecting the electrics at the foot of the mast, and having the mast lowered by crane.
Can anyone advise how possible this should be for me and my father to do?
I've also posted this in the PBO forum, sorry for cross posting if that is not allowed!
Thanks
Adam

 

[Judders]

[ QUOTE ]
I've also posted this in the PBO forum, sorry for cross posting if that is not allowed!


[/ QUOTE ]

I made that mistake once, when something of a newbie. Hark how the old salts squeeled!

Anyone who wants to be helpful, tends to monitor the PBO forum anyway.

 

[joe17]

Its not that difficult to do. Basically the steps you mention are the right ones (although attaching to the crane at some point would also be recommended!).

Usually it is some kind of rope looped around the cross trees to make a lifting strop. You need to work out where the mast centre of balance is as if the cross trees are too low and/or the upper part of the mast too heavy then the mast may invert once lifted.

 

[douglas_family]

you can remove inners before you put on the sling then release caps, back stay and fore stay have woden block on push and pull pits to lay it on (and possibly fender on cabin top), someone at the base of mast guides it forward so it can be layed flat. make sure not all weight goes on spreders may have to spin it round. Once its down tie up all stays etc and then use cranes lifting stropes to life off.

This can be done between 2 boats if there both bigger using halyards. it would be useful to have a few extra bodies on hand to manhandle it if need be 4 to 6 people would be able to carry it ok.

 

[Viking]

Also if you have any item on the top of the mast- wind speed, ariel, windex, radar, if you cant get them off remember the crane line will be either straight up the back or front of the mast. Also if from afloat position which out for wash from passing boats. Once the mast is loose you dont want the mast through the coach roof when the boat boobs up and down!!!
Suggest sails off > boom off > halyards secure to mast > electrics uncoupled, labelled > strap/rope around mast then attach hook from crane, attached just down from cross trees (when restepping the mast you need to be able to reach strap/rope once the mast is back up) > forestay (roller reefing gear) > back stay > outer stays > inner and baby stays. Secure all stays to mast.
Support mast length were possible, fenders work well. Protect ariels, windex etc.
If using cravis pins throw the old ones away and refix with new.

 

[damo]

A quick extra tip from a boatyard worker - don't move around on the boat too much when releasing the shroud bottlescrews, when the crane has the weight of the mast.

One guy was having trouble getting a pin out because his crew were all on the same side "helping", and the boat was listing. The helpful instruction to all cross over to the other side to put some slack in the shroud was obeyed with alacrity - by everyone!