Yard stepping mast question

josrulz · #1 (**permalink**) 11-18-2008

We may be about to buy a boat that currently has the mast pulled for winter. The yard did the work, and we'll have to pay them in spring to step the mast again. That brings up my question: Will the yard normally also tune the rig? By "tune", I just mean the basics, like making sure the mast is straight from port to startboard, and has the appropriate rake. I don't mean racing prep.

Basically, I'm asking if I'm going to have to not only pay a yard to step the mast, but also spend hours myself or pay someone to adjust all the standing rigging after they step it.

Of course, I realize each specific yard will vary on the work they do, and we'll definitely ask this yard this question when the time comes, but it would be nice to know what's "normal" in terms of spring re-stepping/rigging. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks,
J

sunfishin · #2 (**permalink**) 11-19-2008

J,
Even if the yard put a great "tune" on the rig after you "splashed" the boat in the spring,,,,,,,,,,you WOULD have to "tune" the rig again in a week or so, depending on how warmed up/un-stressed the boat is. A sailboat is in a continuous change of rig tension, depending on it's water/air temperature. So after the boat "relaxes" in the water from the yard stay, you should "tune" the rig. The fiberglass hull will eventually change shape when it hits the water after a stay on the "hard".
Tuning the rig isn't "rocket science" if you can read a tuning meter. Get ahold of the rig's or boat's manufacturer and they will usually give you a "tuning how-to" to at least get started. After a while you will get accustomed of the needs of adjustment.....

.........Hey----------it's a Sailboat!!!!!!!!!!!Ya gotta love it.......

Now that's "just my opinion"..............capt'n tye

sailboy21 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-19-2008

Sunfishin is right on. It will change again.

I wouldn't let anyone from the yard do anything with the rigging other than put the stick up and put the clevis pins in. Don't even let them put the cotter pins in. Be there when the stick goes up and do all that stuff yourself.

Its your boat. Learn it know it and love it!

JHJensen · #4 (**permalink**) 11-19-2008

J,

In most cases the yard will do a basic job of adjusting the rigging when they step the mast.

If you have chance, check out their rigging dept. You will be able to get afeel for the kind of work they do and how much you want them to do.

I don't know what your level of experience is, but you will find it a good experience to be there when they do the work so you can see what is involved and perhaps make some notes and ask questions, also take some photographs. Make sure you ask the workers permission before you go taking lots of photographs of them working. If you get some good ones share them with the yard workers or forward them to management with a complimentary note. Keeps relations where they should be.

It will also go a long way towards helping you understand your particular vessel's systems and be more effective and proactive in the management of your asset.

Congrats on the new boat! If this is the one.

Hope that helps,

John

sander06 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-19-2008

I got the same thing going in about two weeks down in Punta Gorda, Fl. I got a rigger who's lining up a crane. The rigger is going to do all of the monkey work to step the mast on the keel and hookup all of the stays, shrouds and roller furler. I just plan on taking lots of pix and asking questions. He said it takes about two weeks in the water for the boat to achieve some kind of a final hull shape before he'll actually "tune" the rigging. Our rigger charges $75/hour and should be worth the cost, especially since I only plan on doing this once in the forseeable future.

Good luck with the adventure!!

BarryL · #6 (**permalink**) 11-19-2008

Hello,

Are you sure that you have to pay to have the mast stepped? Most places around here (Long Island Sound) include the cost of putting the mast on and splashing the boat as part of the haul and store costs.

Anyway, the places that I have dealt with made sure the mast was straight and all the rigging was connected. They got things 'sort of tight' meaning it was good enough to sail in light winds, but you really needed to tune it before sailing in anything over 10 kts. You could just tighten each piece a few turns and that would be good enough to get you going.

Barry

lottobemine · #7 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

We are having our mast restepped and rerigged and the mechanic gave us a price of $400 t0 $500. are we getting the screws?

knothead · #8 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by lottobemine

We are having our mast restepped and rerigged and the mechanic gave us a price of $400 t0 $500. are we getting the screws?

Without knowing what kind of boat you have, how much reassembly is necessary, how much rigging is being replaced, whether it's deck stepped or keel stepped, it's impossible to answer your question. There are just too many variables.
I hope by mechanic, you mean rigger.

lottobemine · #9 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

It's a 29 ft Columbia, deck stepped, we had it shipped up via truck and most of the rigging is still hooked up except the bottom portion, i.e None of it was disconnected at top... Just unhooked from deck and taped up. The mast is currently in two pieces (half on deck and half down below).

It only cost around $150 to get it "unstepped," and the rigger (/mechanic - guy used by the marina where we are renting a slip) seems to be giving us the run around on the quotes for re-stepping. He's already cost us some money by sending us around to different yards from not knowing which one had the ability to unload the boat (they couldn't, then a week later they could, then when the truck got there they couldn't, meanwhile the driver is hanging around waiting for them to get their s*** together....). If he's a "professional" how does he not know these things? But the marina and the yard where we unloaded both named him as the guy they use to re-step.

MobiusALilBitTwisted · #10 (**permalink**) 09-03-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by knothead

Without knowing what kind of boat you have, how much reassembly is necessary, how much rigging is being replaced, whether it's deck stepped or keel stepped, it's impossible to answer your question. There are just too many variables.
I hope by mechanic, you mean rigger.

from ther post

"Tracey
29' Columbia (fingers crossed)
soon to be liveaboard in the Panhandle of FL "