Steve and Bob Thanks!

Bob, When putting the mast back up, is it the same process in reverse or are there a few extra items you do?

Mark

:: On Trim we do it on the trailer with three people. It's
:: really easy.
::
:: Leave a jib halyard hooked to the jib tack ring and
:: leave the aft lowers hooked up. That's all that's needed
:: to keep the mast vertical.
::
:: Since the mast pivots aft, the aft lowers don't need to
:: be taken off (they loosen as the mast comes down).
::
:: I just put a fender on the front of the cabin top as a
:: 'just in case'.
::
:: Two people walk the mast back keeping it even side to
:: side while one eases the halyard, which is good until
:: the mast makes about a 35-40 degree angle to the deck.
:: By then the halyard's at it's end.
::
:: At this point I can hold the mast by myself, but not
:: while walking it down, so one of the others straddles
:: the cockpit seats at about the traveler, and the third
:: person stands on the back deck.
::
:: When it gets down to the guy on the back deck it's
:: really easy to just hold it while the others get the
:: hinge pin out. The angle it's held at doesn't let the
:: mast touch the cabintop (but it's close).
::
:: Watch the butt of the mast as you pull the pin (it wants
:: to come up).
::
:: I do this on the trailer because the boat's steady. I've
:: dropped the rig with a gin pole with the boat in the
:: water, but there's a LOT of rolling which just chews up
:: the hinge.
::
:: :: All,
:: ::
:: :: I wanted to get some intelligent suggestions, best
:: :: practices regarding taking down the mast on the
:: :: Express27 for transporting the boat and mast. Also, some
:: :: intelligence around best practices for reinstalling the
:: :: mask would be a plus as well.
:: ::
:: :: Has anyone in the fleet ever gotten this down to a
:: :: science, or do I just drink a lot and wing it?
:: ::
:: :: Note: I will be working on �Salty Hotel� during the
:: :: mid-winters, as it needs lots of updating to the
:: :: non-skid, hardware layout, and interior.
:: ::
:: :: Looking forward to next season,
:: ::
:: ::
:: :: Mark Wippich
:: ::
:: :: 'Salty Hotel'