Thanks guys for the great advice!

:: This can be done with two people once you get used to
:: the routine. But I would agree that it is definitely
:: good to have an extra person or two around the first
:: time or two through.
::
:: If you don't detach your shrouds on one side before you
:: begin to lower the mast you will definitely bend/break
:: something. Chainplates in my case.
::
:: You can attach a ratchet block to your jib tack tang and
:: run the spinnaker halyard through it. This is a great
:: way to help lower and lift the mast.
::
:: Lowering to the back of the boats is definitely best.
::
:: :: Javier,
:: ::
:: :: How to unstep and step the mast? Carefully :-)
:: ::
:: :: Since this my first boat and first time of doing this
:: :: ourselves, take my opinons with a large dose of salt.
:: ::
:: :: While I think it's possible to do it with two people
:: :: (with an intelligent arrangement and use of supporting
:: :: lines), having done the whole thing now, I think it's
:: :: best to have 3 to 4 people to work together.
:: ::
:: :: Before you attempt to unstep/step the mast, make sure
:: :: there is plenty of slack in the shrouds. At the risk of
:: :: embarrassing myself in public, i actually damaged the
:: :: mast butt when I tried to unstep/tilt the mast w/o
:: :: creating enough slack in the shrouds -- that oversight
:: :: translates into a $250 welding repair job at Anderson's
:: :: to fix the cracked mast butt. BTW, a new mast will
:: :: probably run $3k to $4k according to Seal. Certainly
:: :: worth more than our boat.
:: ::
:: :: The mast step is nothing but a short extrusion that the
:: :: mast fits over -- the image at this link is a pretty
:: :: good representation:
:: ::
:: :: http://www.apsltd.com/images/gallery/10064-1.jpg
:: ::
:: :: The fit between the mast over the mast step is not
:: :: super-tight. That is why you can unstep the mast by
:: :: tilting it down. Had it been super-tight, I guess you
:: :: need to pull the mast up straight to get it off the mast
:: :: step first lest you damage it when tilting the mast.
:: ::
:: :: We tilted the mast forward when we unstepped it. As the
:: :: mast tilts, you actually need more slack in the shrouds.
:: :: I think if I were to do it again, I would detach one of
:: :: the shrouds and have one person use a spare halyard to
:: :: keep enough tension from the detached shroud side to
:: :: keep the mast from falling towards the other side where
:: :: the shroud is slackened but still attached.
:: ::
:: :: The turnbuckles on our old shrouds were rusted frozen,
:: :: so we actually had to detach the shrouds from the
:: :: chainplates and uses a short line to tie the bottom of
:: :: each shroud back to the chainplate temporarily
:: :: (remember, there were only two of us). I wanted the
:: :: shrouds still attached to prevent the mast from falling
:: :: sideways to either side as we lowered it. Again, in hind
:: :: sight, more hands could've helped (and possibly
:: :: prevented the aforementioned mast butt damage).
:: ::
:: :: We led the main halyard to the stern and my partner kept
:: :: a tension on it and gradually let it out as we tilted
:: :: the mast forward. Now Lesson #2: I was on the bow to
:: :: 'receive' the mast as it is lowered down; when I finally
:: :: got a hold on it, my partner slacken her tension on the
:: :: main halyard even more to lower it completely. At that
:: :: point the base of mast pops up , because the place I was
:: :: holding on the mast is to aft of the pivot point of the
:: :: mast. Fortunately I quickly lowered the mast down and
:: :: laid it on top of the deck, so it wasn't too much a
:: :: problem
:: ::
:: :: I talked to Steve Seal later (I got the new mast step
:: :: and mast plate from him). He recommended that the mast
:: :: should be tilted towards the stern. The reason is that
:: :: the distance between the mast step to the stern is
:: :: slightly longer than that between the bow and the mast
:: :: step. You can get to the 'correct' side of the pivot pt
:: :: of the mast easier from the stern.
:: ::
:: :: We were going to raise the mast by ourselves, but on
:: :: that day another S22 owner a few slips from us was
:: :: around. He helped us stepped the mast. We did it from
:: :: the stern this time.
:: ::
:: :: We got the new standing rigging and new spreaders from
:: :: Svendsen's. My boat partner heard good things about
:: :: Svendsen's from one of her S22 friends. I got the mast
:: :: plate and mast step from Seal. Seal definitely is very
:: :: knowledgable and willing to share info with you (when
:: :: you buy stuff from him). It's hard to get a hold of him
:: :: sometimes since he is a one-man shop.
:: ::
:: :: good luck
:: ::
:: :: Pei
:: ::
:: ::
:: ::
:: :: :: Pei,
:: ::
:: :: :: I plan on swapping out the standing rigging soon also.
:: :: :: Did you unstep and restep the mast yourself? If so, can
:: :: :: you tell me how you did it? Also, where did you get your
:: :: :: rigging made up?
:: ::
:: :: :: Thanks
:: ::
:: :: :: Javier
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Just finished replacing the standing rigging on our Tuna
:: :: :: :: (1970, #523). Now it's time to get a new set of sails.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I did a bit of research -- it appears a new sail
:: :: :: :: (doesn't matter it's a main, jib, or genoa) will cost
:: :: :: :: about $600-$700. Ka-ching!
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Any thoughts on acquiring new (or used) sails for S22?
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: thx
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Pei