OK, Now For a Really Stupid Question...

[The Real Flipper]

Boy am I going to show what a rookie I am right now.
I need to wash my boat so I can do other projects like teak repair.
For truck transport the mast was taken down and the boom rested on fenders on the deck and strapped down with the booms own lines.
Now the boat is on the hard with the boom still there strapped on the deck.

I need to get the boom out of the way, preferably to the ground or on the wheeled mast holder that holds the mast sitting next to the boat.
Because I'm using Oxalic Acid to clean and I don't want to get that stuff on my lines or the boom. I think I read somewhere its bad for metal, so its probably bad for lines too.
Also I just want the space clear to clean properly.

So I'm thinking I will use the lines with the winch somehow to lower the boom down. It is surprisingly heavy for its size.
Anyone know a trick to doing this?
Also do the lines need to stay in the boom? Is it the kind of thing where they are a pain in the you know what to thread again, once a line comes out?

Yes, I am new to literally everything sailing at least trying to avoid stupid mistakes

Edit: and of course I don't want to damage the boom. I've got enough broken stuff already!

 

[Hermit]

So I'm thinking I will use the lines with the winch somehow to lower the boom down. It is surprisingly heavy for its size.
Anyone know a trick to doing this?
Also do the lines need to stay in the boom? Is it the kind of thing where they are a pain in the you know what to thread again, once a line comes out?

Yes, you can use the (genoa sheet presumably) winches to lower the boom - just make sure it is tied ablong the length or, secure one end and lower the other, then lower the end that was secure.

Don't remove the lines in the boom without pulling through a mouse (thinner line which then replaces the line to removed to enable you to use it to replace the proper sized line). Can be a huge pain to replace the lines if this isn't done.

 

[Refueler]

You can always raise the mast / boom up higher on X / Y framing ? This then can be used to provide a support for sheeting to tent the boat ...

Its usually a good idea to support at mid section as well .... ropes etc. can all be secured against mast out of the way.

I used to lift mast etc. of boat and stand on containers ... but last couple of years have left on board ...

Light lines pulled through by halyards .... ready for them to pull halyards back in again ...

 

[Praxinoscope]

Hermit & Refueler (#2/3) have covered the post well, I have successfully used the technique that Refueler has detailed, however if you are lucky as I was with my previous boat the Pulpit and Pushpit were high enough to support the mast at either end and a block of wood between the mast and coach roof , to support the centre. see photo.
On my present boat I lower the mast to alongside the boat and support it on 3 ‘cheap’ plastic trestles (B&Q etc..
If you can muster a couple of ‘slaves’ then 3 or 4 people can usually (depends upon the size of the mast) lift the mast off the boat on to the trestles.

 

[RJJ]

Boy am I going to show what a rookie I am right now.
I need to wash my boat so I can do other projects like teak repair.
For truck transport the mast was taken down and the boom rested on fenders on the deck and strapped down with the booms own lines.
Now the boat is on the hard with the boom still there strapped on the deck.

I need to get the boom out of the way, preferably to the ground or on the wheeled mast holder that holds the mast sitting next to the boat.
Because I'm using Oxalic Acid to clean and I don't want to get that stuff on my lines or the boom. I think I read somewhere its bad for metal, so its probably bad for lines too.
Also I just want the space clear to clean properly.

So I'm thinking I will use the lines with the winch somehow to lower the boom down. It is surprisingly heavy for its size.
Anyone know a trick to doing this?
Also do the lines need to stay in the boom? Is it the kind of thing where they are a pain in the you know what to thread again, once a line comes out?

Yes, I am new to literally everything sailing at least trying to avoid stupid mistakes

Edit: and of course I don't want to damage the boom. I've got enough broken stuff already!

Oxalic acid is pretty good for most metals you'd have on a boat. It's the main way to spruce up lightly-tarnished stainless without elbow grease. Add wallpaper paste until it forms a gel, then a squirt of fairy liquid to stop it setting. Apply for 15 minutes.

Give it a good rinse afterwards.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Oxalic acid is pretty good for most metals you'd have on a boat. It's the main way to spruce up lightly-tarnished stainless without elbow grease. Add wallpaper paste until it forms a gel, then a squirt of fairy liquid to stop it setting. Apply for 15 minutes.

Give it a good rinse afterwards.

Yes a very good rinse especially on SS bits

 

[PlankWalker]

Oxalic acid doesn't clean, it merely beeches the dirt along with the jell coat, paint or rope fiber, white.
The size of boat, and weather wood or aluminum spars would be useful to know? If the boom is too too heavy to manhandle.
Then may be the boat is too big for a rookie.
Take all the lines off the boom and mast, mouse any internal lines with cheap thin poly-prop and if ropes cover is in good condition take them to a launderette,
any slight damage to the cover, wash by hand, final rinse (white ropes only) ad a cupful of oxalic acid and leave to soak.
Don't be tempted to save a few quid and use your domestic washing machine, ropes too heavy, it will knacker the bearings.
Get some advise on the teak, whether it is the real McCoy from Burma. Which we are banned from buying new.
or the plantation stuff they grow in Africa , which they call teak, but isn't. Second hand Burma teak is legal and available.
They are still ripping it out of the forests of Burma, so someone is buying it.

 

[GrandadPig]

Oxalic acid doesn't clean, it merely beeches the dirt along with the jell coat, paint or rope fiber, white.
The size of boat, and weather wood or aluminum spars would be useful to know? If the boom is too too heavy to manhandle.
Then may be the boat is too big for a rookie.
Take all the lines off the boom and mast, mouse any internal lines with cheap thin poly-prop and if ropes cover is in good condition take them to a launderette,
any slight damage to the cover, wash by hand, final rinse (white ropes only) ad a cupful of oxalic acid and leave to soak.
Don't be tempted to save a few quid and use your domestic washing machine, ropes too heavy, it will knacker the bearings.
Get some advise on the teak, whether it is the real McCoy from Burma. Which we are banned from buying new.
or the plantation stuff they grow in Africa , which they call teak, but isn't. Second hand Burma teak is legal and available.
They are still ripping it out of the forests of Burma, so someone is buying it.

I happily bung lines in our washing machine. Done it for years, never had a bearing go yet. Just be sensible and don’t overload it. . Winds up the missus too ??

 

[KevinV]

... with the boom still there strapped on the deck.
..... It is surprisingly heavy for its size.

It'll be a lot lighter if you undo the straps ?

 

[mrangry]

I would avoid putting rope in the machine as the internal cordage can haemorrhage out of the extenal braid as I found out to my cost

 

[William_H]

Yes I would not remove lines from boom. Just soak the available ends in a bucket of water with detergent. Oxalic acid will not hurt lines but will remove algae and some dirt.
As said a bit of splash of oxalic on boom will not hurt it if you flush with water soon after.
I would not take the boom off if it's present location is best for refitment. Don't get too carried away with cleaning the boat. Plenty of time for that once it is in commission. As you say you have lots of jobs to do. Cleaning is one of those bit by bit jobs done over time so it is not such a chore. Get out sailing. ol'will

 

[PlankWalker]

I would avoid putting rope in the machine as the internal cordage can haemorrhage out of the external braid
It will only do this if there is damage to the cover.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I would avoid putting rope in the machine as the internal cordage can haemorrhage out of the extenal braid as I found out to my cost

Normally when ropes are put in a washer there are first put in a pillow case

 

[sailaboutvic]

Just wondering how big is the boom that it's too heavy to move ?

 

[ashtead]

I suggest the real question is whether Flipper has a partner to assist as then the job should go swimmingly but if a single Flipper it might be tricky for a the first time. I have been sailing a few times /years and would have no Ida how to do this apart from asking the crane driver at a yard to lift it and lower to ground . My recollection is strops go round mast but maybe no handy yard crane? If not is there a wooden trestle legs to rest mast on when lowered so not going all the way to ground . How long is this mast though as that might help with weight calculation. Where is the vessel to gain local help? Are you a member of a sailing club etc to gain a few helpers.

 

[Refueler]

Just wondering how big is the boom that it's too heavy to move ?

I have suspicion we may be looking at Boom +/or mast ??

My 8.5m heavy mast with forestay furler still secured along it can be lowered over side by two reasonable able bodied men with decent ropes that are easy to handle ... gib-sheets are what we used ... but 3 people makes job much better because of the need to manhandle to the boat side. I always remove the boom .... it has no fancy reefing lines etc.
Those two men can carry my Mast + furler across yard.

 

[Daydream believer]

Nobody has mentioned how the op is going to get this “heavy” boom over the guardrail and stanchions. They will have to be removed first. In many cases the geno winch is lower than the genoa winch. Also that winch is well aft and not central to the load.
does the op have a winch on the aft end of the cabin which is higher?
personally I would think that it must be a very big boom that cannot be handled by 2 people. if they lower one end first then the other. Surely it can be rotated at right angles to the boat and gently lowered down without all the faff of winches etc.
if really worried the tie a rope around the middle when doing it and take a turn round a deck cleat on the opposite side of the boat to stop it sliding too quickly
as an aside ==2 of us can lift the boom on my mates 45 ft boat so the OP must have a very large boat for the boom to be so heavy. When on the hard it. Is high up but 2 coutd still manhandle it down for a vang repair on the ground
the sail was a different proposition though

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It seems the OP was talking of boom only which I am surprised he finds heavy, cumbersome yes but heavy??? It is easily done either by making a sling so that it hangs level then a single line oe even 2 lines one at each end to ease it to the ground. It can be lifted over the guard rails one end at a time by one person.
The mast can be done on such a "small" 33 foot boat by two people in a similar fashion (carefully) However when it comes to putting it all back together a rigger and crane will be needed.
Don't take the reefing lines out of the boom, do it later (winter ) if you want to wash them and be careful about keeping tension on the mousing lines as it is easy for them to slip of the internal pulleys in the boom.

 

[steveeasy]

Id not mess with winches and the like. If the boat is on the hard make sure it is very secure. Then get extra hands and lower. They can be far heavier than you’d expect.

Steveeasy

 

[Daydream believer]

It would be nice if the op would give us the size of boat and length of boom.