So on Sunday the intrepid band of brothers (well... sub annnexe... as Smithy and t'other Dave aren't safe to be let loose on a small boat) of Rod the Mod, Dave and I convened aboard Sparrow for the bi-annual wrestle with the mast foot bolts that is the mast raising/lowering...
Have to say that this years was probably one of the best mast lowering's we have - didn't really do anything significantly different to previous attempts [clicky], and we must have done this about a dozen times now as a team...
I'd bought a small pry bar to help with just "ooching" the mast up a bit to help getting the bottom bolt out of the mast/tabernacle - not a massive success, but Dave had a suggestion to just slightly increase the size of the bolt holes on the tabernacle.. will do that this winter...
Other than that, the drop was smoother than a smooth thing and fairly soon we were reduced to this ==>
The sun was shining as we took the mast down - chilly though as last weeks easterly was still with us - true to form the showers came in just as I cracked open the boats bar, but I can't say that it interrupted the chat and the joshing... we were then joined by "Solitaire" David who was down to check the aforementioned ready for this weekend when he will sail and motor round for the lift out.. ace - never had four people on Sparrow before... we were errr.. 'snug'
Few beers and some pork pies later and it was time for home - good result, good afternoon... and that's what it's all about...
Have to say that this years was probably one of the best mast lowering's we have - didn't really do anything significantly different to previous attempts [clicky], and we must have done this about a dozen times now as a team...
I'd bought a small pry bar to help with just "ooching" the mast up a bit to help getting the bottom bolt out of the mast/tabernacle - not a massive success, but Dave had a suggestion to just slightly increase the size of the bolt holes on the tabernacle.. will do that this winter...
Other than that, the drop was smoother than a smooth thing and fairly soon we were reduced to this ==>
The sun was shining as we took the mast down - chilly though as last weeks easterly was still with us - true to form the showers came in just as I cracked open the boats bar, but I can't say that it interrupted the chat and the joshing... we were then joined by "Solitaire" David who was down to check the aforementioned ready for this weekend when he will sail and motor round for the lift out.. ace - never had four people on Sparrow before... we were errr.. 'snug'
Few beers and some pork pies later and it was time for home - good result, good afternoon... and that's what it's all about...
I think the times come, what with Solitaire Dave and T'other Dave when all the members of this very select band of brothers should all change their names to Dave and be done with it - it would certainly help when remembering each others names as this merry mast dropping team grows bigger, much attracted by the beer and the pork pies.
ReplyDeleteOr Bob... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU-tuY0Z7nQ
Delete:o)