Removing the mast… Yes, we removed the mast yesterday. Why, will be revealed shortly…
To check the video out go to our Facebook page post.
Ok, this post is for John Lloyd who specifically asked me to write a post on removing the mast… and those boys and girls who like big toys, cranes in particular, Lego and jigsaw puzzles… If that is you, read on.
Saturday we had the mast of Saboteur removed. Why? Because the rigging is 17 years old and it is time for new rigging. Also, we want the rigging to last us the next 10 to 15 years. We want it done before we move on to Saboteur. And, if we want insurance for any accidents caused by the rigging, we need to replace it now.
As I revealed in an earlier post, a lot of prep work was done on Friday… The crane was booked for 7 am Saturday morning…
We got up at 6ish expecting David (aka Tubby) to be on the boat to help us take her about to the dock somewhere between 6.30 and 6.45am. In the meantime, we ran a few more things to the car, walked the dingy around the boat and secured her out of the road of us exiting our berth.
Side note: I am wanting to come up with a nickname for the dinghy. A name that relates some way to Saboteur. Any suggestions are welcome. I suspect Martin thinks I am a little crazy, but he knows that to be true. I digress..
—
At about 7.10 Martin received a call asking where are you? We are waiting for you.
Miscommunication, misunderstanding, call it want you like it does not matter… and before you knew it one of our “almost” neighbours offered to help us take the boat around (news travels fast or they heard Martin on the phone, again it does not matter) just at the same time a dinghy turns up carrying Dave and Fitz who, we were soon to learn, are Masters at their craft.
John (Lloyd, yes you) to answer your question why we were not taking Saboteur around ourselves. There are two reasons, East Coast Marina is a maze that blends into Royal Queensland Yacht Club and the working docks and we do not know our way around. The second reason, we have yet to manoeuvre her much ourselves and she is significantly different to our 34 ft Duncanson. The difference, 34 ft to 47 ft. 6 tonnes to 18 tonnes.
And now is not the time to stuff it up…
So, we crewed for Dave as he took her the very short distance. We rounded the corner to see the crane was set up, outrigger beams holding her securely in-place and waiting for us. As we approached the dock, I admired Dave’s skill to dock her so perfectly. And that was just the beginning…
Fitz had scooted ahead of us in the dinghy. And by the time we were docking he was on the dock ready to catch the lines we threw his way.
Then Dave and Fitzy set to work helped by Martin and me with the “every ready” camera in hand… The process went more or less along the lines of…
But first, a disclaimer… I’m not an engineer, crane operator, rigger etc – so, any technical errors, please forgive or provide correction to improve clarity. Either or I am OK with.
Stage 1 – Prep work (done Friday)
Stage 2 – Detaching weather veins and other equipment from the top of the mast.
To do this, Fitz hops into what is called a bosons chair (could be likened to a toddler’s swing seat) which is attached to a halyard (a line) that is connected to electric winch… And viola, Fitz is carefully raised up approximately 17 meters from the top of the deck to get to the top of the mast. This process took approximately three and a half minutes. Once at the desired height (brakes on) he disconnected the weathervane and I am not sure what else.
To check the video out go to our face book page post.
Stage 3 – Placing the sling on the mast so the crane can take the load.
Fitzy is lowered a couple of meters to the mast separator’s (brakes on) and then the crane’s hook complete with a couple of slings is carefully manoeuvred towards Fitzy. This is coordinated by Dave giving instruction to the crane driver by the gentlest of hand gestures. Both Dave and the driver come across as a very polished team.
It makes Martin and my attempt at arm gestures pointing to the direction of the anchor chain seem amateurish. Meanwhile, I am enjoying watching the brilliant skills that are unfolding in front of me.
Side note 1: I keep looking at the crane operator trying to work out where I knew him from.
Side note 2: Rob Brown texts us asking us to join him for breakfast at Café leMer (Manly) the café in the Marina. And then wanting to check out the boat. I text back saying sounds great…We will be about an hour…
All off a sudden I was super hungry. Last night’s dinner was cheese, biscuits and champagne… nice…
Back to Fitz, Dave and the crane operator…
The sling is delivered to Fitz and he removes one end of the sling from the crane hook and wraps it around the mast below the separator and then replaces the end of the sling in the hook. Impressive… I would probably have dropped something by now.
They raise the crane jib (arm) enough to test the sling is secure. Success.
Dave is lowered down the mast. He jumps out of the bosons chair and heads below deck.
Stage 4 – Taking the load.
Dave starts providing instructions for the crane operator to start taking the load. They are happy the crane has the mast secured. Dave, Fitzy and Martin start to release all the stays and lines that hold the mast in place.
Stage 5 – Removing the boom
The boom was disconnected from the mast. Fitz and Martin passed the boom up to Dave and myself and we carry it to the trailer. This is the first time I really looked at the trailer and man she is seriously long.
Stage 6 – Initiating lift.
It appears they need a little more force to get the mast to release from the base plate. Dave and the operator are discussing the pressure levels… It got up to 900 ??? Dave did not like it. They brought the pressure back to 500 and gradually took it up to 700… It appears to be stuck. Not sure why, but Dave figured out and then there was movement. Gradually the mast started rising.
Stage 7 – Clearing the cabin.
The mast clears the cockpit and the crane operator holds her steady over the deck while Dave, Fitzy and Martin tie the stays and lines together. They all get strapped to the mast.
—
Side note conversation:
Dave says to Martin, you’re really going to have fun on this boat, she is a beauty.
Martin: I don’t know if I am excited or poor or both.
Dave: Probably a bit of both.
I giggle.
I am now also getting seriously hungry.
Quick text to Rob, we will be 30 minutes late.
—
Stage 8 – Carrying the mast to the trailer
And so, our mast gradually rose up away from the cockpit and carefully continued to rise over the dock towards the trailer. One seriously long trailer for a seriously long mast. We learnt later that day the mast was 21.3 meters.
Again, it was magic to watch Dave and the crane operator move the mast to location.
Stage 9 – Rotating the mast from vertical to horizontal position.
A piece of dunnage (timber) is placed on the ground for the mast to rest on. I am sure it is years of experience to know exactly where to put the dunnage. And the mast is carefully, carefully placed on the edge of the timber not to crush any electrical cables sticking out the bottom of her. With mastery Dave, Fitzy and the crane operator lower the mast to the trailer. And Dave and Fitz set about securing the mast and the boom to the trailer. Meanwhile gaffer tape is used to secure high-vis-vests to the end of the mast and the spreaders. It works…
Meanwhile, the crane operator is lowering his jib, securing his hook block, bringing in the outrigger beams and securing the blocks they rested on.
—
I look at Martin and wonder what is going through his head. This process is costing a lot of money. However, we chose to see it as in investment.
He wonders over, and says doesn’t the operator look like Ben Lowe… Yes, spitting image and his mastery of the crane is equal to Ben’s mastery of his bike.
—
And so, Dave jumps back on Saboteur and Fitzy in the dinghy. We crew for Dave and once again we have a master class in docking… And learnt a new way to reverse Saboteur into her berth.
I love how our neighbours all jump to the ready to catch the lines we throw them and secure her in her berth.
—
We head out to meet Rob for breakfast.
I was seriously hungry and had the best eggs benedict with ham on gluten free bread accompanied by an almond milk flat white. God it tasked good.
Before our meals arrived, we discussed the possibility of rain and how to cover the now very big hole in the centre of our boat.
Martin looked up the rain radar. No problems the rain is in Ipswich, however the clouds behind us told another story. Martin went back to the boat to cover her and arrived back just as his breakfast was put on the table. We eat and chatted and then the first rains drops fell.
We walked back to Saboteur and proudly showed Rob our new home. She did not look quite right without her mast and associated trappings, but she still looked amazing.
We went below deck, made a cuppa, put some music on and chilled out for a while.
Rob even had a power nap…
#loveourcrazylife #Ilovesailing #whatareyouwaitingfor #marinalife
