Unstepping a Mast

[dptransom]

I pulled my Morgan 382 out of the water yesterday. I need to unstep my mast because I'm replacing the standing rigging, removing/inspecting the chainplates and doing some other work that is easier to accomplish with the mast out of the boat. My yard doesn't have a mast crane, so they cannot do the work.

The yard manager uses a guy with a bucket truck to remove masts. He normally does tree work, but he has pulled a few masts for the yard in the past. Obviously, this worries me a bit.

Does anyone have suggestions? There isn't a marina anywhere near me with a mast crane, so I need someone to come to me. Hiring a crane seems pricey.

Also, what is the best way to store the mast? They don't have racks. Sawhorses don't seem stable. I'm considering supporting the mast every 15-20 feet with landscape timbers.

Thanks!

Ken F.
Morgan 382
Don't Pay the Ransom
http://www.dptransom.com

 

[pmagowan]

Out mast was removed by a small crane on a fishfarm boat. It was a simple job but required planning and a few people about to help. You need to remove all the wiring from inside and tape it to the mast with duct tape. The same can be done with external rigging. The crane needs to use a 'soft' strop and raise it to about the height of the spreaders. Then it just inches it up while everyone makes sure that it is ok. Once it is out of the deck then it can be let down slowly and with control. It should be reasonably ballanced so it doesn't take much to hold it but it does have a bit of leverage. I put a couple of bales of straw on the deck to take it when it was out. If you take it right off the boat then it can sit on anything that provides reasonable support. The whole mast is of a weight where it can be lifted by 2 men when out and on a stable surface but it is still quite heavy. As long as you don't let it get any momentum there is no problem.

 

[Tranona]

I pulled my Morgan 382 out of the water yesterday. I need to unstep my mast because I'm replacing the standing rigging, removing/inspecting the chainplates and doing some other work that is easier to accomplish with the mast out of the boat. My yard doesn't have a mast crane, so they cannot do the work.

The yard manager uses a guy with a bucket truck to remove masts. He normally does tree work, but he has pulled a few masts for the yard in the past. Obviously, this worries me a bit.

Does anyone have suggestions? There isn't a marina anywhere near me with a mast crane, so I need someone to come to me. Hiring a crane seems pricey.

Also, what is the best way to store the mast? They don't have racks. Sawhorses don't seem stable. I'm considering supporting the mast every 15-20 feet with landscape timbers.

Thanks!

Ken F.
Morgan 382
Don't Pay the Ransom
http://www.dptransom.com

With that size mast you need somebody who knows what they are doing. I would not trust it to a crane driver who has not done it before. Assume it is a double spreader mast so will need a crane with a very high jib. When it is done by people who know what they are doing it looks deceptively easy. Make sure your crane operator has full insurance and you clear what he is responsible for. It will be expensive as you will need a minimum 1/2 day hire of a very expensive bit of kit.

 

[bjl]

Why not get a rigger to do the work? He will provide the crane and the risk will be his. Your storage solution will be fine.