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.

Our condo : )

TMegan, this is mostly for you! I was thinking of you tonight when I posted this :)

From our balcony. pictures never do enough justice.

our makeshift couch : )

celebrating EKU style--fireball. 

We are in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Ashley and I are here in Puerto Vallarta!  It is a beautiful city.  It's pretty cool coming here for many reasons, but one that I find interesting and kind of cool is, we have a local restaurant chain from our home town in Kentucky named after this city.  

We are staying in as hostel named Oasis Hostel in the El Remance (The Romance) neighborhood.  It is the slow season so the hostel is pretty slow, but there have still been enough people to meet some interesting travelers and make some new friends.  Of course we came to Puerto Vallarta to come to our friend Hector and Fatima's wedding.  We went to it last night and it was absolutely amazing.  Their families are so sweet and took us in as if we were blood.  Hector's direct family in particular.  They are so amazing.  I just love them all.  Seriously, every single one of them... and there are like 8 or 9.  I think we are going to ride back to their home town of Leon with the Mom and Dad and the sisters, Hector and Fatima are on their way to Cancun for their week long honey moon.  I'll talk more about their wedding when I post some pictures of it.  

I've included a bunch of pictures from around Vallarta.  It's a really beautiful place.  Vallarta has a cool old downtown with all sorts of shops and place to eat and it's all right next to the beach with a beautiful board walk called the, "Malecon".  There is also a really built up area with large resorts and more "touristy" stuff.  but it's all good.  Anyways, check out the pics, and I'll check ya later!

First night in a airport.

I am about to head to LAX!! it is almost 1am. I am very excited about it. I have a book downloaded, I have a blanket, I have a delta club members pass which we have never used, and I am planning to have a glass of wine when I get there. Oh and I am going to paint my nails too. I got off work 2 hours early tonight, so I am mostly ahead of schedule and able to enjoy the excitement. I am looking forward to seeing the love of my life tomorrow. I dropped him off at the airport on Saturday. Tonight he is taking a overnight bus to Puerta Vallart from Mazatlan. He texted me he had a great movie downloaded and then went to go play it and it was in Russian!! His words were "oh well at least I have internet" : ) This is the longest we have been apart, or should I say the first time we have been a part since January. We have gotten pretty used to being tied to the hip...Anyways I'm going to hit the road now!

GOT THE BOAT ON THE TRAILER!

HOLY MOLY!  I almost can't believe it!

I've been busting my tail, stressing out, and working on getting this boat on the trailer.  Heck I even pulled the boat twice before trying to get her on the trailer, but she wasn't fitting right, and the trailer needed adjusting and then to be built up.  But today it finally happened.  I finally got the boat on the trailer!  She is sitting there so nicely.  She fits like a glove.

Of course now that I have her safely on the trailer, I can't wait to get her off and back into the water to do some more sailing!

Swinging that baby out of the water!

Rene is the man.  This endevour would have been much more difficult without his help.  This guy rocks.

Looking like she's gonna fit!

Touch down!  Holy crap, she fits real nicely.  No modifications needed.  The straps can easily be slipped off and everything!

She had a lot of gunk on her, man those things were actually living creatures, yuck city!  I scrapped a bunch of it off.

Here she sits in her new dry birth.  Oh what a sweet feeling!

Exterior of my boat - 1971 Columbia 26 Sailboat

Exterior of my sailboat.  Basically I show off the deck, and cockpit a bit.  I was going to show off more, but my battery died.  :-(

I also made another quick video of me sailing her a bit.

I'm sailing. I am a sailor now.

I'm sailing my boat through the harbor!