Time to pull the mast

[SVHALLEL]

Pulling the mast today for a refit and refurb. Keel stepped with Euro style rigging plates on a 88 Catalina Morgan Classic. You do realize sometimes what a can of worms you open untill you open them. Let the fun begin! Happy sails

[SVHALLEL]

Well got it out and stripped today. Ordered rigging and lighting. Sending to Lefiell to have it reworked. Changing the boat to a cutter rig. Now to work on chain plates. After pulling the deck plates I am afraid that they used 5200 on the chainplates too.

[Cherp]

Good luck with it. We were going to pull ours this year for refurbishment but put it off until next year when I will have more time. Apart from the refurbishment, our is black and I plan to paint it white. I don't like black stuff on boats.

[rebel heart]

Mine's wood; lots of work had to be done. I replaced my chain plates after the mast got back on. One at a time. Get the stick back on the boat as fast as you can!

[kentobin]

Hello SVHALLEL,

I'm doing a refit on a 1978 Rafiki 37 cutter rigged with a LeFiell mast. I was wondering why you're sending yours back to the factory for rework. The mast seems pretty bullet proof. I do have some issues removing the stainless steel hardware that was never installed with anti-sieze but that's it.

Also some riggers prefer rigging a sloop with a solent stay vs re-rigging as a cutter. Less design effort involved to get it engineered correctly. I was considering it for my boat but decided to leave well enough alone.


Convert Your Sloop to a Double-Headsail Rig | Sail Magazine
"A Solent stay is not a cutter’s inner forestay, which is farther aft and typically requires additional support in the form of running backstays or extra swept-back shrouds. This is one of the biggest attractions of a Solent rig: no extra standing rigging required."

Thanks in advance.

Ken

[SVHALLEL]

What happened to mine was the euro mast fittings would not come out while on a bosun chair. Used lots of heat while on the ground. I am sending it to the factory to have it stripped painted new rivets and new cable ran. It was less expensive to have them do it. The stick was 58 feet and the yard wanted 52oo to paint it. Lefeil has a great refurb program and just to paint it 2500. A niegbor pulled and painted himself for about 900 to 1000 plus 2 weeks of labor.
I chose the cutter for 2 reasons. The main one was I have a new harken furler off my old boat that was 2 years old and the right length. Second I like the versatility of a cutter. The solent has advantages like less rigging, less cost and less designing. Just a personal preference I guess.
Thanks for the replies. Will keep posted

[SVHALLEL]

Well made new stainless backing plates, chainplates ready, new standing rigging, LED lighting, new running rigging, and the mast is ready at Lefiel. Need to finish some glass work and organize the installation.

[SVHALLEL]

Well it has been awhile but I am close to sailing again. Got the new rig on and staysail roller furling to a point where it can be used. This was by far the biggest project I have done to date (not counting the cutout, design and refit of new water tanks). Still need cabin top staysail tracks and cars, line lock for mainsheet, and 2 large cheek blocks. Will use snatch blocks and barber hauler temporarily till I can work more overtime. Two weeks till I take her out for rig tuning (excited )

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[Kevin84]

Nice! I'm about to pull my mast as well. Dryrot repair. Gotta love a wood stick.

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[rognvald]

"Get the stick back on the boat as fast as you can! " Rebelheart

Why do you need to step the mast as quickly as possible? I have dropped my mast every three years for the last 25 years for inspection and reconditioning from 6 weeks(in the Tropics) to six months(up North) with no difference in effect based upon time. Can you explain your above statement more clearly as to the need for speed?

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by rognvald

"Get the stick back on the boat as fast as you can! " Rebelheart

Why do you need to step the mast as quickly as possible? I have dropped my mast every three years for the last 25 years for inspection and reconditioning from 6 weeks(in the Tropics) to six months(up North) with no difference in effect based upon time. Can you explain your above statement more clearly as to the need for speed?

I've just seen a lot of those projects go on for way too long. There's generally not much you really need the entire rig off for and while it's off the boat is obviously unsailable.

Plenty of people don't have peoblems but I've seen those unstep projects drag on forever.

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[SVHALLEL]

Finally sailed her and got the rig tuned. It worked! I corrected the problem I had when I bought the the boat. Adjusting the step, putting in pre bend , and adjusting rig tension was able to rid of the heavy weather helm, balance the boat and hit hull speed close hauled in chop with 15 degrees heel with 12 to 15 knots apparent wind. That I was impressed. It is impossible to tack the Genoa without someone on deck or rolling and rolling back out. Will get used to it. With the new bearings in the furler it was a lot easier to furl.
You are correct in the fact that these projects tend to get drawn out. Mine started August 2013 and sailed March 29 2014.
It was worth it though.
Thank you for the comments
John

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