Unstep mast on Ranger 23

[Cal28]

With all the work that needs to be done to the Ranger 23 ... (rewiring lights, changing sheaves at masthead, new standing rigging and running rigging, painting spreaders) decided this weekend to just drop the mast and get it all done at once.

Does anyone have any knowledge or advice on a mast tabernacule or anything else that might be helpful in getting this done? (yes going to do it at the dock) ...

The Ranger 23 has a 27.5 ft mast (under 100 pounds with spreaders and all) and is berthed next to the Cal 28 and we could use her lines.

Thanks again as always ....

[Cal28]

we finally got the mast down ... probably over-thought it ... but in the end it was relatively simple ...

- ran a line from the end of the boom to the top sheave of the mainsheet block and then over to the port winch and cleated off

- ran a second line from the end of the back stay thru the bottom sheve in the mainsheet block tod the starboard winch and cleated



- for security for the boom ... third line goes around the mast below the boom and runs up to a loop on the bow pulpit and then back thru a block to a cleate

- loosened the turnbuckles

- released the backstay and fed out out the slack slowly until the mast started to move foreward (and we could see the mast step)



- continued to feed out the slack ... lifting the mast off the step and walking it aft ... with someone positioned to catch the tip

took less than 50 minutes from start to finish ... the majority of the time spent loosening the turnbuckles ...

now it's on to clean and lube all the hardware, remove and replace all the sheaves and cotter pins ... run the new halyards ... refinish the spreaders ... run new wiring down the mast and replace the mast light ... add wind speed instruments ... and ...