Lowering mast fees?

[smurphny]

I did the install on my radar, a small Furuno. The cable that comes with them is just long enough to go from mast to where my display is mounted. Actually, I let the tail wag the dog a bit because I set the height of the dome so the cable would reach without having to install an extension cable. I have the cable exposed overhead in the cabin, running alongside the grab rails which makes it very easy to snake back out when the mast is lowered/raised. It's pretty much out of sight. A professional installation would no doubt use an extension cable or make one up so that it is completely hidden and maybe next to impossible to get out. My thoughts, having to lower the mast every year, were that it was more important to be able to get at it than hide it. I understand these can be cut and spliced with a connector so you may be able to easily put in a connector where they had to cut it.

[RobGallagher]

If you keep asking around, you will find the place that does not advertise in the yellow pages and likes $US Cash.

In Annapolis they just quoted me 6-8 man hrs @$90/hr and a crane fee that was so high I forced it from memory.

In CT I can get my mast done for about $100 bucks if I have everything ready to go, but, that's not a full service "Brewers" type establishment where I can use the jaccuzzi while they pull the stick

[smurphny]

There is a very good thread on the Wooden Boat site that addresses the self-mast raising procedures and equipment. Here's a link: Mast-lowering rig Just hearing Rob G's astounding estimate makes me sure to follow up on being able to do this.

[sawingknots]

i thought about the bridge/tree thing too,even had a couple of bridges picked out but the i stumbled upon a dock building crew that had a crane mounted on a barge who were more than happy to step my keel stepped mast for $100 bucks,but i can understand yards and insurance too,most people today are sue happy and theres no shortage of slimy lawyers

[JimsCAL]

At Brewer's in addition to the in-and-out per foot fee, they charge extra for mast storage plus extra for roller furling.

[CaptMikey]

there's a video on youtube where a guy made a self mast raising contraption out of pvc pipe. go to youtube and type in sail mast raising. macgregor has one but i don't know if you could adapt it to your vessel.

[RhythmDoctor]

I posted a video of my stepping rig a couple of weeks ago in this thread. Here it is if you are interested in trying something similar:

[OasisII]

Originally Posted by RobGallagher

If you keep asking around, you will find the place that does not advertise in the yellow pages and likes $US Cash.

In Annapolis they just quoted me 6-8 man hrs @$90/hr and a crane fee that was so high I forced it from memory.

In CT I can get my mast done for about $100 bucks if I have everything ready to go, but, that's not a full service "Brewers" type establishment where I can use the jaccuzzi while they pull the stick

Rob: As discussed in PM, I'm at marina next to you. They hit me for 5.5 hours this year!!!!! Tried to argue it to no avail. Previous years have been as low as 4 hours. I think that they just make up the hours?

This includes removing the spreaders, tying everything up and moving to storage rack. --- I removed sails, and this year pulled the halyards for cleaning. Also removed all canvas to make it easier (and quicker) for them to move around. Stop by my mooring next summer for a beer. I need to pick your brain on being more frugal!!!

[Joesaila]

Originally Posted by RhythmDoctor

I posted a video of my stepping rig a couple of weeks ago...

That looks great but where mine is keel stepped it wouldn't work. I'd need a hinge or other major rigging. It's a 42' mast and my plan now is to first get an estimate of raising the mast in May and hopefully doing the existing stays myself...not that hard when keel stepped. Lesson learned...always get a cost estimate ahead of time....ALWAY$

[Capt.aaron]

Generally we don't step masts on the hard, but it's done. I once step'd a mast on the hook by using two friends sailboat's on either side of a boat in the middle. Halyard's and winch's. You can build a rig for stepping mast's out of two 15' pole's and a block and tackle system. We had one at Sailing Services in Miami for stepping mast's 30 feet and under. The feet of the pole's wedge at the gunwales and join at the top at the spreader's in front of the mast. forming a triangle. A line led aft and forward from the apex hold it up. The block and tackle hang from the the top center, or V , Connect to mast just below the spreaders and haul away. I used that thing 20 times. It's basically how that dude stepped that mast in London's "SeaWolf" I pay a guy 250 down here in Key West to come around with a Cherry picker. I once got permission from a DYI Yard to throw a line over the top of the travel lift and a group of us hauled it up and lowered it into position. My point is there is more than one way to step a mast. It depends if your cheap, broke, resourceful, or an airhead I guess.