Unstepping Mast on CAL 2-34

Folks, I am about to unstep my mast for the first time - can anyone tel me what to expect as far as deck step (it is deck stepped) and connectors under there are concerned? Are wired provided with quick disconnects? I have mast light, Antenna and Wind indicator wired going up in the mast, apparently lead in from under deck straight into the mast... The step - I don't really see a step, so I assume it is a plug over which the mast sits through which the wiring comes. Any and all insight will be appreciated.

I am not familiar with the CAL 34-2 but I have stepped and unstepped over 100 masts in the last 33 years so this is some generic advice. For a deck stepped mast the step goes inside the mast about 1/2 inch and has a flange which matches the outside of the mast and the mast rests on this. I assume that when you are unstepping the mast you have a crane or hoi8st of some time and sufficient help to handle the mast and to remove the shrouds. Keep careful track of the pins for the shouds, try to remember which ones go where since they are not all the same size. Be sure to throw away all used cotter pins, new ones are cheap. I have seen people reuse these pins it is way more effort than it is worth. (some may say it is dangerous) While the shrouds are being removed the mast is slightly tensioned by the hoist and stabilized by someone hugging it. After everything is remove (in fresh water, roller furling headstays are best directed into the water so that they don't get bent; in salt water ask someone else) lift the mast about 6 inches, place a block of wood between the bottom of the suspended mast and the deck to protect fingers from unintentional movement caused by a falling mast or a rising boat. The wires are then pulled out from the inside of the mast. Most wires are plugged together and the plugs taped together to prevent inadvertent separation I have seen some wires twisted together and taped. Antenna coax cables have plugs that are screwed together and possibly taped. Good luck on your first unstepping it's not hard if you have sufficient help and good equipment, just do not stand under the suspended load. We have had two masts fall, once do to a bad knot on the lifting bridle and one due to a hoist line failure. One mast broke, one did not but it did drive the spreaders through the deck. John B CAL 227 #650 On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 1:45 PM, <du… [at] aim.com> wrote: > ** > > > Folks, I am about to unstep my mast for the first time - can anyone tel me > what to expect as far as deck step (it is deck stepped) and connectors > under there are concerned? > > Are wired provided with quick disconnects? I have mast light, Antenna and > Wind indicator wired going up in the mast, apparently lead in from under > deck straight into the mast... > > The step - I don't really see a step, so I assume it is a plug over which > the mast sits through which the wiring comes. > > Any and all insight will be appreciated. > > >

Here is a vid of me taking down the mast on my 2-29. I did it myself. Used a cal 20 mast to lift it. I think around a min in is when the mast starts coming down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=d4mHCOHu2Dk Jim East coast cal 29 sailor.

This Selden Rigging Guide is a great way to prepare yourself. I just completed a round trip on my Cal 28. I found the center of gravity of the mast to be just below the spreaders. So it was easy to rig a lifting bridle that picked up the mast at the spreaders. Then I was able to rotate it gently to lay it on the deck. Be prepared to pause when you get the mast lifted about six inches to a foot. This will give you a minute to sort out the internal wiring which needs to be disconnected. I just cut mine with a nipper. When I completed the internal wiring for my new masthead light and steaming light, I used trailer connectors to finish the wires from boat to mast. When the mast went back up, I just plugged the two ends together. You need a "captain" for the job. Someone must definitely be in charge or you will have the helpers all calling out instructions to the crane operator. Take charge of the job and make sure that you have briefed everyone on your crew. Good luck, it's an experience you will value having under your belt. George Barlow Eagle Mtn Lake, TX On Oct 14, 2013, at 3:13 PM, John b wrote: > > I am not familiar with the CAL 34-2 but I have stepped and unstepped over 100 masts in the last 33 years so this is some generic advice. > > For a deck stepped mast the step goes inside the mast about 1/2 inch and has a flange which matches the outside of the mast and the mast rests on this. > > I assume that when you are unstepping the mast you have a crane or hoi8st of some time and sufficient help to handle the mast and to remove the shrouds. Keep careful track of the pins for the shouds, try to remember which ones go where since they are not all the same size. Be sure to throw away all used cotter pins, new ones are cheap. I have seen people reuse these pins it is way more effort than it is worth. (some may say it is dangerous) > > While the shrouds are being removed the mast is slightly tensioned by the hoist and stabilized by someone hugging it. > > After everything is remove (in fresh water, roller furling headstays are best directed into the water so that they don't get bent; in salt water ask someone else) lift the mast about 6 inches, place a block of wood between the bottom of the suspended mast and the deck to protect fingers from unintentional movement caused by a falling mast or a rising boat. The wires are then pulled out from the inside of the mast. Most wires are plugged together and the plugs taped together to prevent inadvertent separation I have seen some wires twisted together and taped. Antenna coax cables have plugs that are screwed together and possibly taped. > > Good luck on your first unstepping it's not hard if you have sufficient help and good equipment, just do not stand under the suspended load. We have had two masts fall, once do to a bad knot on the lifting bridle and one due to a hoist line failure. One mast broke, one did not but it did drive the spreaders through the deck. > > John B > CAL 227 #650 > > > > > On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 1:45 PM, <du… [at] aim.com> wrote: > > > Folks, I am about to unstep my mast for the first time - can anyone tel me what to expect as far as deck step (it is deck stepped) and connectors under there are concerned? > > Are wired provided with quick disconnects? I have mast light, Antenna and Wind indicator wired going up in the mast, apparently lead in from under deck straight into the mast... > > The step - I don't really see a step, so I assume it is a plug over which the mast sits through which the wiring comes. > > Any and all insight will be appreciated. > > > >

I've taken my mast down (and back up) a handful of times over the last couple of years with ease due to the tabernacle (pivoting joint) mast step on my cal 28. It's proven to be very useful and would consider adding one to any deck stepped sailboat I may own in the future. A rope is secured from top of mast to back of boom, and from back of boom to either side of deck. Mainsheet is let out and mast and boom rotate forward and down, with a 90* angle between them. I can just about do it single handed but always have someone lending a hand. On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 3:19 PM, George Barlow <ge… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > > > This Selden Rigging Guide is a great way to prepare yourself. I just > completed a round trip on my Cal 28. I found the center of gravity of the > mast to be just below the spreaders. So it was easy to rig a lifting > bridle that picked up the mast at the spreaders. Then I was able to > rotate it gently to lay it on the deck. Be prepared to pause when you get > the mast lifted about six inches to a foot. This will give you a minute to > sort out the internal wiring which needs to be disconnected. I just cut > mine with a nipper. When I completed the internal wiring for my new > masthead light and steaming light, I used trailer connectors to finish the > wires from boat to mast. When the mast went back up, I just plugged the > two ends together. > > You need a "captain" for the job. Someone must definitely be in charge or > you will have the helpers all calling out instructions to the crane > operator. Take charge of the job and make sure that you have briefed > everyone on your crew. > > Good luck, it's an experience you will value having under your belt. > ___________________ > George Barlow > Eagle Mtn Lake, TX > > > > > > > > On Oct 14, 2013, at 3:13 PM, John b wrote: > > > > I am not familiar with the CAL 34-2 but I have stepped and unstepped over > 100 masts in the last 33 years so this is some generic advice. > > For a deck stepped mast the step goes inside the mast about 1/2 inch and > has a flange which matches the outside of the mast and the mast rests on > this. > > I assume that when you are unstepping the mast you have a crane or hoi8st > of some time and sufficient help to handle the mast and to remove the > shrouds. Keep careful track of the pins for the shouds, try to remember > which ones go where since they are not all the same size. Be sure to throw > away all used cotter pins, new ones are cheap. I have seen people reuse > these pins it is way more effort than it is worth. (some may say it is > dangerous) > > While the shrouds are being removed the mast is slightly tensioned by the > hoist and stabilized by someone hugging it. > > After everything is remove (in fresh water, roller furling headstays are > best directed into the water so that they don't get bent; in salt water ask > someone else) lift the mast about 6 inches, place a block of wood between > the bottom of the suspended mast and the deck to protect fingers from > unintentional movement caused by a falling mast or a rising boat. The > wires are then pulled out from the inside of the mast. Most wires are > plugged together and the plugs taped together to prevent inadvertent > separation I have seen some wires twisted together and taped. Antenna coax > cables have plugs that are screwed together and possibly taped. > > Good luck on your first unstepping it's not hard if you have sufficient > help and good equipment, just do not stand under the suspended load. We > have had two masts fall, once do to a bad knot on the lifting bridle and > one due to a hoist line failure. One mast broke, one did not but it did > drive the spreaders through the deck. > > John B > CAL 227 #650 > > > > > On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 1:45 PM, <du… [at] aim.com> wrote: > >> ** >> >> >> Folks, I am about to unstep my mast for the first time - can anyone tel >> me what to expect as far as deck step (it is deck stepped) and connectors >> under there are concerned? >> >> Are wired provided with quick disconnects? I have mast light, Antenna and >> Wind indicator wired going up in the mast, apparently lead in from under >> deck straight into the mast... >> >> The step - I don't really see a step, so I assume it is a plug over which >> the mast sits through which the wiring comes. >> >> Any and all insight will be appreciated. >> >> > > > >