E26-2 - How to Un-Step the Mast

[KS Dave]

Can anyone from the E26 crew give me some clues and/or tips on taking down a deck-stepped Kenyon mast? Obviously I need to remove sails, lines, boom vang, etc. I think I can figure that part all out. Then detach the furler and stays (any particular order recommended?). Big question - how does the mast actually detach from the base? It wasn't obvious at my first look, but is there a pin or bolt? Anyone have pictures? I know from Randall's pictures there's a wiring and antenna cable inside I need to detach once it's lifted, but he completely re-did his to be able to lower/raise from the ground.

Our club has a hand-cranked crane tower that I can pull up under once it's on a trailer, and I intend to attach the strap so it slides up and lifts under the spreaders until the weight shifts, but the detach part I need to figure out. Appreciate any help as well as any "gotchas" I might encounter.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I take mine down every year to get the boat home so have experience , Once you have some tension on the strap and its pulling straight up, detach inner stays, fuller, backstays, then upper stays, lift enough detach wires , walk base of mast to bow as you lower strap until the mast is resting on the pulpits or ground.
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[KS Dave]

I take mine down every year to get the boat home so have experience , Once you have some tension on the strap and its pulling straight up, detach inner stays, fuller, backstays, then upper stays, lift enough detach wires , walk base of mast to bow as you lower strap until the mast is resting on the pulpits or ground.
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Thanks, Brad. That's VERY helpful to know the best order and a procedure you've perfected. Is there a pin or bolt that holds the mast to the step, or does it just lift straight off?

 

[Brad Johnson]

My mast is not a Keton but I restored a 25+ and that was a Keton and had a bolt thru a tabinacial ?? ( not sure of spelling )

 

[KS Dave]

My mast is not a Keton

So your mast just lifts straight up without a bolt? I'm pretty sure my mast is a Kenyon.

but I restored a 25+ and that was a Keton and had a bolt thru a tabinacial ?? ( not sure of spelling )

A tabernacle, perhaps? I thought that was for a hinged mast, but I could be wrong.

 

[Brad Johnson]

The 25+ had a cut out in the back of the mast to allow it to be hinged down

 

[Alan Gomes]

Thanks, Brad. That's VERY helpful to know the best order and a procedure you've perfected. Is there a pin or bolt that holds the mast to the step, or does it just lift straight off?

On my 26-2 it just lifts straight up off the step. No bolt or any other fastener.

 

[KS Dave]

The 25+ had a cut out in the back of the mast to allow it to be hinged down

Right. I thought that's what I heard that in reference to. Thanks for your help, Brad!

On my 26-2 it just lifts straight up off the step. No bolt or any other fastener.

Thanks, Alan.

 

[Shankara]

My 25+ has the cutout for hinging (see picture attached.)

I had the option to wait through the weekend and have the marina place the mast with a crane, or try to raise it manually with a friend and a gin pole made out of a spinnaker pole. If I were to do my entire life over I would have had the marina do it.