[Rhodes22-list] Lowering the Mast to the Stern

[P&M Beals]

Hi all. 

Back from our day (Sat.) of taking the boat out and lowering the mast.

Our friend brought his jeep to trailer us out...Does anyone actually use a
mini-van to trailer their Rhodes in and out of the water?  Maybe next season
we will attempt it...actually trailering it in wasn't a problem with the 6
cyl minivan...but getting it out? Seems like a job for a standard
transmission or 4 wheel drive vehicle...but if anyone on the list does it
successfully would love to know about it.

Lowering the mast was pretty uneventful, but I have one suggestion for the
steps that Steve came up with in September, you know for us newbie
types...and that is after # 3 or 4 to add that you need to lock the boom
into the highest position.  We forgot to do that, and when the mast couldn't
rest easily on the cabin deck we had to raise again, raise the boom to top
slots and take it from there.  Also for new owners it doesn't  hurt to add a
step of removing the mast plate bolt...

Is it really necessary to loosen the turnbuckles since those shrouds become
slack when lowering the boom anyway?  That  process of loosening turnbuckles
etc. with our codder pins adds a good 30 minutes to the whole job...

Who is it that can lower the mast in 35 minutes?  If you read this I would
love to know if you use the codder pins and rings on the turnbuckles or if
you have a more efficient system, please share it!

We have to work on our winterizing work tomorrow.

The going rate for winter storage outside at marinas in Staten Island is
$1200 for a 22' boat without trailer, but with the trailer it is only $850!!

You gotta love the  cost of living and luxury in the northeast...fortunately
we found a pretty secure state park where we can store our boat for $115 for
the winter-  which I prefer to our back yard.

THANKS AGAIN RHODIES!

Phyllis 
Whisper 
NJ

> From: Steve Alm <salm at mn.rr.com>
> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 15:33:40 -0500
> To: Rhodes <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Lowering the Mast To The Stern
> 
> LOWERING THE MAST TO THE STERN:
> 
> 1.  Disconnect the back stay tensioning line
> 2.  Disconnect the boom from the traveler
> 3.  Remove the traveler bar
> 4.  Hoist the boom up with the topping lift and cleat it off on the mast
> 5.  Disconnect the pop top slider and close the hatch
> 6.  Disconnect the radio and steaming light
> 7.  Wrap up jib sheets and jib reefing line
> 8.  Disconnect forward lower shrouds and add extensions
> 9.  Loosen all other shroud turnbuckles
> 10. Deploy and secure mast crutch
> 11. Deploy and secure hoist crane to cabin top block
> 12. Attach aft lower shrouds to crane
> 12a Alternate: Attach line from crane to mast bail if you're thus equipped
> 13. Tie hoist winch line to bow cleat with a bowline
> 14. Snug the hoist to slack the bow stay
> 15. Disconnect bow stay
> 16. Crank the hoist "down" giving the mast a little shove to get it started
> 17. Check the shroud extensions as you lower to avoid entanglement.
> 18. Tend the jib as you lower
> 19. Lower the mast to the crutch
> 20. Disconnect mast from tabernacle
> 21. walk mast, boom and jib forward and secure the whole bundle on the bow
> pulpit.
> 
> CAUTION:  Never let anyone stand under the mast while lowering
> 
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