Update: De-Stepping the mast. - Success Report and Thanks to /r/sailing we got it down!

Wow.  Things just keep getting better and better.  We got the mast down!  Holy moly!  In our previous post: De-stepping the mast - Failure Report and Help Request we ended up getting the A-frame built, but couldn't get the mast to move.  I posted this to /r/sailing (it's a sub-reddit on www.reddit.com... check it out, it's awesome.) and got so much information.

Thank you to everyone who helped.  I really appreciated all your support and ideas.  But particularly I want to thank 'texasrigger', 'TheShayToon', and 'jdubes'.  You guys really stepped up to help me out, and I really appreciate it.

Okay, so let's just dive in:

This is a bunch of blocks and some line.  What done is I've made a block and tackle.  This is to be used as a mechanical advantage when lifting the mast.  In my previous post detailing the failure, several people on /r/sailing said I needed some 'purchase' or a mechanical advantage.  This block and tackle serves that purpose.  It provides me a sort of transmission.  I can apply 10 lbs of force on one end, and it will give me 40 lbs of lifting power.  This will make lifting the mast easier and safer.

Here we are pulling the A-frame up again.  This is our second time, and we screwed up again.  You see how the A-frame is past the spreaders on the aft side.... this isn't gonna work.... gotta take her down and lift her back up the right way again.  

Poor picture... but it was tense and excited.... the mast is actually slightly lifted right now.  We did it!!!  At this point it was just a matter of getting her safely down.  We knew we could get it down atleast if nothing else, by dropping it.  Ashley is guiding the base, as I'm applying the lifting force.  One thing to note is how are A-frame legs are attached to the deck.  There are eye-bolts on deck with a line tied to it.  That line is then tied to the legs... simple and it worked.

We start changing positions and maneuvering the mast into a resting spot.  The guys in the right hand side of the picture with the macgregor sailboat... they had a cool self made jib roller furling.  We actually gave them a hand lifting their mast as soon as we pulled our boat into the parking lot.

Oh yeah baby.  I'm pumped!!!  We just saved ourselves 500 bucks!!  

I think this picture is really pretty cool.  This is pretty much an action shot.  I was slowly lowering using the block and tackle setup, which this picture also gives a good view of how it connected at the A-frame head and the mast.

WOW!  The mast is safely on deck.  I feel like we now have dominion over this boat, and that is a really good feeling.  One thing left.  Get the wheel bearings greased.

Here is a picture of the mast step.  Completely intact as we didn't have to cut it!  There is a bunch of grimy stuff in the bottom.  The important two bits were two wires.  I ended up cutting them both.  My bet is one is a GPS wire that ran up to the top of the mast, and the other is an electric line that was running to the light on the mast.  Both of these I'll replace, as they didn't have a convenient way to disconnect, and I honestly had no idea if they worked or how to use them.

Here she is on her port side.  You can see we safely got the A-frame down and resting on the side of the deck.

Here is a good view of her starboard side.  The mast is just resting up there for now.  We will secure her down prior to hitting the road.

Proud sailboat owners.  And now we know how to take down the mast!!

Just look at that  cigarette.... will you just look at it.  Oh well.  I'll just cut it out later.