Death of in-mast furling/new mast

replacement of in-mast furling/new mast

Hi all,

I'm close to making an offer on a Sabre 362. It has in-mast furling. That's one of the main reasons why I haven't made an offer.

Well, come to find out, the owner is currently (as in today), having the mast pulled to be painted and re-installed. And he's paying 14k to do so.

This seems like an ideal opportunity for me to stop this guy in his tracks. Firstly, I don't know why you'd pay 14k to have your mast pulled and then only paint the damn thing. Seems like an opportune time to put a new mast on there with a stack-pack or dutchman system.

Anyhow... I'm looking at the cost of these things and it seems like the 14k the seller is paying comes pretty close to the price of a new mast. Unfortunately, he's got a nice newish tape-drive main on there now, so that's a bit of wasted money unless I can sell it or re-cut it into an standard battened mainsail.

I have 4 questions for you sailnetters:

1. Is there anything else I should have done while the mast is out? I'm already planning to have the mast step inspected and repaired (known issue on some 362's). Should I have new standing rigging done at the same time? Mast-head instruments? What else?

2. Can any cost be recouped by selling the used mast?

3. Can I have the tape-drive furling main re-cut and fully battened for use with a standard mast?

4. Would the boom need to be replaced as well?

Thank you!