Will shipyard or others take Aluminum Mast for free, remove it free?

My ericson 25 mast got beat up, and the boat is old with patches including big patch from yanked off cleat from last hurricane. But I want to use boat without mast as motor cruiser especially on lower Mississippi area and maybe return up to Minnesota which I did once when I was young in a Macgregor 26, ha. What are options to cheaply get rid of my mast? It seems ok but due to beating and clear black marks I never use it in high wind. I guess I could pay $200 or so for shipyard to crane it off, I guess, then I can call a scrap dealer to get it free? Will shipyard pull for free if I give them it? Is there a market for masts? Can ericson 25 mast be used on other boats?? ... My mast has no tabernacle or anything, it just sits with nothing on the hull and I guess there is a stub inside to keep it from sliding left or right.... I did it with my Macgregor 26, can me and couple guys by hand lift it off? Hmm.

PS. Will parrot fish remove barnacles totally or do they just eat the insides leave the shells.

-- Alex, Galveston

alexwilliamrussell said:

PS. Will parrot fish remove barnacles totally or do they just eat the insides leave the shells.

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I can't help you with the mast, but that post script could be the title of Jimmy Buffett's next big hit song!!

I have no idea how parrotfish feed, but their face is rather threatening....
Aluminum is worth good money at the metal recyclers around here, altho some places would require you to cut it into 3' sections first.

Rig up a cheap wooden tripod and take it down yourself.

Just saw it up. Easy.

Use the barnacles to attract and trap a bunch of parrot fish in suitable net(s). lash the net(s) to your headsail halyard. secure bitter end of headsail halyard. disconnect forestay and hold. drop brick in water. Just as parrotfish take up slack, release forestay. parrotfish will help the mast come down gently, and mast will bring dinner back. Cheers!

Our local recycles require us to remove all stainless fittings before they'll accept the mast. As others said, you'll need to cut it up (into transportable lengths).

If you're ditching your mast, I'm looking to buy some spreader brackets from a 23, 25 or 27. Could ease the burden of dealing with the rest.