Mast question

[Ed Tanzer]

I have to lower the mast on a 1975 Hatteras 53 MY, just need an idea as to the aprox weight.
thanks,
ed JJFLYGIRL

 

[MikeP]

Our mast has to go down to get into our covered slip and then back up when we leave so mast "up/downing" is a requirement for every ride.

I use a simple mahogany wood support, with a "U" at the end to cradle the mast and a flat "foot" on the other end. Been working fine for years. You could make it with 2x4 if you didn't care whether it looked "nautical." In our case, the foot rests inside the dink since the dink is mounted behind the mast. And sometimes I just rest the mast on the inflated dink sides which also works fine. But the higher the mast is when laid down, the easier it is to raise.

I made up a block/tackle setup that I can attach to raise/lower the mast but I don't need it. The oem Hatt mast has a bunji-chord counter-spring setup that, if adjusted properly, makes raising lowering the mast easy enough for one person though, of course that would depend on what's on the mast. We have radar and a KVH sat dome there.

The block/tackle is in a deck box and it can be attached and the mast raised quite quickly. It can then disconnected and tossed back in the deck box. But as I said, it turns out that with the counter spring tensioned properly, I don't need the block/tackle to do the job. But it's available should the bunji chord counter spring break.

Here's a pic of the mast with the Hatt-OEM bunji counter "spring."



And here's a pic of the entire mast showing the wood support from the dink; the radar is not mounted in this pic.

 

[rsmith]

You have a checklist so you dont land "gear up"? lol

 

[MikeP]

No check list but I have an "auto-check" system on board...the Admiral asking, "did you drop the mast?"

 

[Ed Tanzer]

Thanks, I actually need to take it off the hinge, and off the boat....I think it's wood???
But trying to get a feel for the weight.....
do I need 3 men and a boy or can I handle it myself....
tnx ed

 

[MikeP]

If yours is wood, it's a different type mast than what is on our boat (aluminum) so everything I posted is probably not applicable. Two of us removed the aluminum mast and carried it down the dock a couple of years ago. Whether a wood mast would be heavier or lighter than the AL, I have no idea.

 

[sandspur1966]

If you are taling about the OEM mahogany mast installed in front of the flybridge on the deck coaming, I would guestimate mine was about 40-50 lbs. I removed mine when i had the hardtop intalled.

 

[Ed Tanzer]

If you are taling about the OEM mahogany mast installed in front of the flybridge on the deck coaming, I would guestimate mine was about 40-50 lbs. I removed mine when i had the hardtop intalled.

Thanks, that should be manageable by 2.....

ed

JJFLYGIRL