Lowering mast fees?

[Joesaila]

How much should I expect to pay to have my mast lowered? My boats a 30' Morgan Out Island.

[Cruiser2B]

i have called around my area in hampton roads, va and got quotes from 3 places 350 to 100 bucks. the 350 place said their rigger needed to be onsite for insurance purposes....go figure. That was for an Alberg 30

[sawingknots]

i've paid $100,its not that big a deal,the last time i found a working barge with a crane[5 minutes tops] a keel steped mast doesn't need to be supported while you rig the stays[depending on the waves ofcoarse]

[Lake Superior Sailor]

Mine's deck stepped and it costs $100.Takes about 20 min.-Dale

[Lake Superior Sailor]

I have put it up & down using Trees and a mast mounted winch. But; then I am a tree climber by trade--Dale

[wonk]

I've done it twice. First time, it cost $200 at a boatyard. Second time, I loosened the shrouds, disconnected the fore and back stays and the top shrouds so the mast was only supported by the intermediate shrouds, pulled up near shore under an abandoned railroad bridge, tied off to a piling and an anchor and used the bridge to hoist the mast and lower it onto the deck...

[sailor50]

Do you want it done cheap, down and dirty, or correctly? Expect to pay the crane fees and a rigger from $150 - 240.00 depending on whether you remove your sails, boom, get your turnbuckles marked, loosened and unpinned yourself.

Yeah any airhead can take down a mast, but do you really want to risk about a $10,000.00 piece of essential equipment?

[CalebD]

Joe,
A lot may be dependent on what kind of boat yard your boat is in. If it is in a Brewer's yard it could cost up to $350 for the brief use of their crane. Other places will be a bit cheaper. If you have a friend who owns a cherry picker and your boat is in a DIY yard you might be able to do it for very little.

[Capt Semloh]

It's common practice in my parts to step your own mast.
I guess we are all just airheads.

It depends where you are having it done.

In Florida I had to pay 350 for crane rental
175 for Licensed Rigger

[sailingfool]

In Massachusetts, yards don't want to pull masts due to the insurance expense, so many require you to bring in a local rigger, to the tune of $300 or so one way. Or charge something similar if they do it themselves. Thus all the boat yards where all the sailboats winter with their masts up.

Some small DIY-type yacht clubs have a crane or bring in a mobile crane and pull the member masts for cheap (that being closed to $100...). Boat haulers who pull out on public ramps will also pull the mast as part of the haul fee, since they can't take your boat to the house with the mast up. Usually they station a crane where they are doing the spring and fall hauling.

I used to have my 36 footer hauled out, the mast pulled and secured, then shipped 60 miles to the back 40 for winter storage, then shipped back, the mast raised and boat launched for the same price the boat yard wanted to haul, move it a 100 feet, then store the boat with the mast up. I heartily recommend Simms Marine Simms Brothers Marine - Contact for any area hauling...they can deposit a boat in the most unlikely places.