Step one was disconnecting all the wires that run through the mast to power the running lights, anemometer,etc.
Thankfully, that wasn't too big of a deal. That's the mast running vertically in the cabin, with the flashlight pointed at it.
The next morning, we pulled the boat over to the marina yard's work area. Brian called upon his inner monkey
and climbed the mast to place the special nylon collar around it to lift by.
Here's the business end of the crane's cable.
Then it was a matter of disconnecting the hardware on the shrouds and stays so the mast could be lifted free.
Some of the turnbuckles were a little stubborn, but they're due for replacement anyhow.
The crane got into position, and Alicia went down below to help guide the wires out of the boat
(and provide warning shrieks if the mast's angle began to damage anything as it came out). Here's the mast lifted about a foot or so. It sounded like a tree falling as it came unstuck from the keel!
Here's the pile of mysterious powder pooped by the mast as it was hoisted.
Up it goes out of the cabintop!
Brian can't believe this is actually happening. This was taken through the resulting hole in our ceiling.
The crane pulls the mast and rigging free!
Brian and the excellent Miguel guide the mast onto sawhorses.
While Louie worries about what the heck's happening out there.
SARABANDE sits newly nude! It was a bit tricky to get her wedged into that little "slip" for this.
Underway to our new winter slip, mastless. What a strange sight! Are we powerboaters now?
BACK