macwester wight

[robstracey]

A relative of mine wants to buy a macwester wight, but has to keep it in totenham so needs to go under the bridges. what we need to know is can you take down the masts? and how easy is it to do?

Any help would be great.

 

[paulrossall]

I have a Macwester 30 which is also known as a Macwester Wight mark 1. However I am a sloop and wights are ketches. The wights main mast is mounted in a tabernacle and it is possible to lower it if you make up an "A" frame arrangement. It would take some time as you have to remove 3 sets of shrouds and the forestay, and if he has a roller reefing genoa then that is more difficult to deal with. I don't know about the aft mast but it cannot be too dificult as it is not that big. Once the main mast is lowered it would stick out the rear of the boat by some ten feet so you would need to disconnect it from the tabernacle and move it forward, resting it on the pushpit and pullpit.
I bring my boat home to Newark at the end of the seasom and come up the East coast into the Wash and take the mast down in Boston. then come through the Inland waterways to the Trent.
I would only recommend taking mast down once a year, it is too difficult to do on a regular basis.

 

[Guest]

3 guys and tend the shrouds

Mizzen mast first .... 2 can do this, lay with foot still in tabernacle.
Main mast down while 2 guys control side motion, you control its descent aft ..... leave foot in tabernacle, mast sticks out back end - but as long as you aren't backing into anything ????

Just take it easy, think about it and once you've done it once, then its a doddle next time.

If you make an A frame ... its easier, but not absolutely essential.


Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !