The rig was down when I did this but it is not neccessary. The whole process was quick, although time adds up if you have to dig out balsa. That sounds like a good job plan described in Ralph's message.

:: There's no need to take the mast down. The aft lower
:: shrouds will hold the mast up while you work on the
:: chain plates. This would be a good time to check the
:: balsa core in the deck around the chain plates. Dig out
:: any wet or rotten balsa core; let the hole in the deck
:: dry out; tape the hole under the deck: fill the hole
:: with epoxy and silica filler; re-drill the slot for the
:: chain plate; check for rot in the chainplate bolt holes
:: in the bulkhead; repair any damage with epoxy; re-drill
:: the holes; replace the bolts if they are corroded;
:: re-bolt the chainplates to the bulkhead; and re-caulk
:: the chainplate holes in the deck.
::
:: ::
:: :: Andy, thanks for the reminder. I have not done a thing
:: :: to mine except visually inspect them. I want to reseal
:: :: them this winter and am wondering if you took down your
:: :: rig to do it. I can see where I may be able to keep the
:: :: rig up, but since you have recently done it, did you
:: :: drop your mast?