De-stepping the mast - Failure Report and Help Request

I was really excited to make this blog post.  Now my excitement has turned to a bit of hope.  You see, I was hoping to tell everyone how I took my mast off the Columbia 26.  But I can't tell you that.   The mast is still stepped on the deck.  However I did build a big A-Frame, hoist thingy, that I can tell you about.  Theoretically it should allow me to lift a mast off a sail boat... but that is still theory at this point.  So without further ado, let me show you the pictures, and explain as I go along.


Let's get started:

First get some long wood.

This is what the real long wood looks like.  These are 20 footers.  2x6's.  I've got a bolt with some washers at one end.  To get the bolt hole, you drill through the wood.  I just eyeballed it... also note the hat.  This is a critical feature for a bald man.  Get a hat... if you a bald... and if you aren't maybe get one... they are cool.  Also note the nice new ropes/lines the blue and the green to the left.  ropes are cool.

Here is a bigger picture of the bolt through the end of the long wood.  Also you can notice a pulley.... but in the sailing world I think these are called blocks... I don't know that seems like such a strange word.  Most sailing words make sense, this one I haven't figured out yet... but that's another story.
One thing to note... I got a big long bolt, I think it's a 3/4 inch head, but not too sure.  It' was big enough I felt good with it.  And I got two washers, and two nuts.  A washer on each outer side so the pressure is distributed, and the two nuts to act together as a adjustable length stopper... but really I don't adjust it, just tightened it down

You see the pulley's job (or the block...) is to actually be the pivot point for the line (which is also a rope, that has a specific job... that sailing term makes sense to me.) that will actually be lifting the mast, or rather the line that will supply the force (via someone pulling, or some other thing-a-majig that you use... i use me pulling).  I bought a pulley that is rated for 500 pounds.  I'm pretty sure the bolt will end up snapping before 500 pounds, but heck maybe not, I don't know... but my guess is on the bolt snapping before the pulley.

Here we are so far.  Boards are attached with bolt, washers, and nut, and with a pulley in between.

Now we drill another set of holes through the wood.  These holes are about four feet from the top.  These holes are for the lines (ropes) to run through that hold tension towards the aft of the boat.

Here you can see the distance of the holes to the top of the A-Frame.  

Now lets get some rope, and give it a job.... which if I'm correct this turns the "rope" into a "line".  Whatever, just attach them like this.  Two for one direction, and one for the other.

Here the A-Frame is in an action shot on the ground.  Ashley is holding the forward tension line, and I've got back two attached.  The idea is that you put a line through the pulley and lift up the mast.

We decided that the long wood wasn't strong enough.  So we added another 2x6  - just 16 foot ones though.  

This time we only got 16 footers.  And we attached them like a "L" shape.  A "T" shape would have been probably better structurally... but it would have been more difficult to fold up into a nice and neat little portable mast crane thingy.

Ooh yeah.... look at that beautiful folding action.  Of course this is crazy pre-optimized.  We don't even know if it will work yet.  But if it does... wow this is cool.

Here we are hoisting the crane thingy up with the jib halyard.  Not difficult with two people.  

Bad news blues... My camera died at the point I needed to continue taking pictures of our progress.  However, the progress didn't get too much farther.  As even after we released all the standing rigging, we were unable to move the mast, even when I put all my weight on the pulley rope which was hoisting the mast. The mast is clearly still somehow attached to the deck.  Update: We have successfully got the mast off.  Click here to view the blog post. 

Here is one more shot of the a-frame on the boat.  I got this with Ashley's phone as mine had died.  

UPDATE: We have successfully got the mast off. Click here to view the blog post.

This is the mast, the mast step, and the deck.  It looks like I may be able to cleanly cut through the mast step, without effecting the mast.  It doesn't look like the mast sits inside the step or the deck.  Atleast not from what I can tell.

Another picture of the mast step area... I've included about 6 of these pictures... so there are no more "cool" pictures.. just mast step area pictures that way someone may help me to determine the best course of action.  Should I cut or should I pay money?  I'm really a DIY and feel like I'd learn a bunch from cutting.  Hopefully save 540 bucks.  I mean heck how much does a new mast cost?

Yeah that's probably the best question I should be asking.  How much doe a new mast cost?  I mean if it's less than what I can get his one de-stepped... wouldn't it just make sense to "CHOP IT DOWN".... to this one?  Perhaps that's another possibility I should check into prior to paying 540 an hour.

Even if I ended up ruining the base of this one... which there is no real reason to think that at this point... all though there is no reason to believe to strongly in the converse either.

Ok, almost there.  Now this shot gives me the reason to believe that I should be able to cut into the mast step without hitting the mast.  What do you think?

Last one.  Probably shouldn't have put it with all the others.  But I did.  So what.  Who cares... you made it this far.  I mean I appreciate it and all... but this is my blog... I can put up any stupid pictures I want.... ok I'm just kidding and rambiling now.  Thanks for looking at all these pictures.  Hope you enjoyed them.  I've got some more text that I wrote not as a caption, but as the body of the blog below these pictures.  Be sure to check that out too... I mean if you want and stuff.

Ashley and I tried to build an "A-Frame" and attach it with lines and then hoist the mast off, however we found out that the mast must be some how be attached to the boat.... Somehow other than the standing rigging, of which we removed all of it.... Fore and back stays, and the port and starboard pairs of side shrouds (she only has two shrouds per side, as apposed to some boats I've seen with 3 per side.)  My guess is the step is either glued or somehow bolted to the mast or deck...

I've included a bunch of pictures of where the mast meets the deck, and wondering what others think.  Should I just try to cut through the step with a reciprocating saw?  That's what I'm thinking right now.  Setup the A-Frame hoist, and then put lifting tension on the mast, then start slowly cutting through the mast step.  My other option is to start paying 540 bucks an hour for a crane operator and a sailboat rigger. Probably only take an hour, but still, that's a lot of money.
UPDATE: We have successfully got the mast off. Click here to view the blog post.