MAST DAY

It was a day for the mast.  Having it off the boat for first time in a third of a century offered the opportunity to look at it closely all over and discover all the -problems- opportunities.

The basics were good.  Structurally sound and not to much corrosion. It needed a good cleaning which it got last week.

It needed new wire — so I linked old wire to new and snaked through the VHF, then hooked put the new antenna.  Next was the new mast head light. No problems snaking through the 54 foot mast.  Then came the steaming light about 30 feet up the mast.  I knew there was conduit within the mast, but what I didn’t know is that the exit hole in the conduit part way up from the mast was too small for the new wire.  The first attempt failed.  So did the 2nd.  Ditto 3rd and 4th.  Then I switch tactics and snaked through a messenger line.  Then failure #5.   So I strip insulation.  Closer, but 6 was a bust. Then I staggered the 3 wire, so I’d pull up one, then 6 inches later 2 with the 3rd wire following in about 6 inches.  Difficult to explain but try number 7 worked.  Hooray.

So next was the sheaves at the top of the mast.  Corroded. They all came out, except, of course, for the last one.  It just wouldn’t budge.  I lubricated it, coaxed it, then used a rubber mallet, to push, pull, twist, cajole, and finally — AN HOUR LATER — it sprung loose.  Sheesh.

I went to replace the sheaves at Fisheries Supply, but they didn’t have them.  A quick call to my buddy Andy confirmed what I had expected — they could be cleaned up and would function just fine.

So a day of frustration requiring patience but I think it’ll pay off.  A good lesson on maintenance though.  Things have held up well, a regular maintenance schedule will certainly help things.