The only SOB that has explained almost to detail how to forward lower a mast like on a Nor 'Sea 27. Other blogs are filmed from 100 miles away and don't pinpoint anchor points for your support and lowering.
Glad I watched this one. Found the pin wraps at West Marine and Vela Supply. Cool idea. Enjoyed your 11 year old video in Redwood City. It’s funny I know West Marine in that area when it was called West Coast Ropes founded by a local guy, Randy Repass. Worked for West Marine for five years total, for the parts discount, of course,
Thanks for sharing. I'm excited to see you guys raise the mast back up when all the work is done. :) It seems similar to an entire house rehab. I'm enjoying these videos!
I haven't watched one of your videos for awhile. I do enjoy them. We finally purchased a 1976 Bristol 32 and have it docked in Superior, WI on Lake Superior. We love our boat.
That was a very interesting and informative video. I was a bit confused at first when you didn't remove the boom, but then I didn't understand the genus of the harness until I saw it all in action. Thank you so much for sharing and I look forward to observing the refit.
Great video, I've seen a few different tabernacle setups, most pretty similar. This is the first time I've seen any of them used. a bit thank you for the demonstration
Neat system you guys have there. We drop our mast rear wards but then we need to have a separate Gin Pole, you just need some rope. Much easier to find on a boat :-)
+funNstuff with the Foxwells Even better, we can lower the mast with the mainsail and cover on if need be. We have two, four part mainsheets that we shackle together for this operation. We have seen it done the other way, on our friend's Vega, Wren, but this system seems so much simpler. Anyway, it came with the boat d;^)
As a new vega owner and a a long time want to be owner you two have been a go to for what and how to. On going through the paper work I have found copies of the old news letters and you were there. Before the Internet age Chuck thank you for what you have done.for vega owners I know its your love of the boat and sailing. On looking at this video then your web site can I suggest lots of photos on the site. I was looking for a photo of the mast hidge to make one, then I see the rigging you have done. You two are a wealth of knowledge. I cant wait to see what type rigging you go to. Thank you mike
In April 1990, when I moved aboard Lealea, I found a box of newsletters and dashed of a membership application. Ten years later, Sid Rosen the publisher of the newsletter passed away and I took it over. I published on paper until 2006. Members of the old VODCA and American Vega Assn. helped with scanning and we got all the old newsletters all the way back to the 1970s scanned to .pdf and uploaded to the website at americanvega.org. I think that probably everything that anybody knows about the Albin Vega can be found on that web site or on CruisingLealea.com - which I have sorely neglected lately. I know I have published clear shots of the mast step. Damned if I can remember if it was in a video from Port Townsend or in the newsletter. So many have asked I guess I will have to make a point of revisiting it.
Chuck Do you think if I were to remove the common mast plate. Then have a 3/16 copy made for the deck. Then have another copy made that would fit the mast. Then have the two hinged together I would be ok. Thanks mike
I'm in the process of installing a similar hinged mast step on Vega #3360. Can you shed any light as to what size fasteners and (more importantly) what sort of backing plates your mast step utilizes, if any? Thank you so much! You guys are our inspiration!
The bottom plate of the mast step is secured to the deck with four countersunk machine screws. They are about 5/16 inch thread size and are secured inside the cabin with nuts and washers over two stainless steel plates, one on either side of the main beam.
Great job! You're lucky to have that hinge on your mast! I don't, so I will definitely have one mounted next time the boat is unmasted. Thanks for sharing this very useful info! Do you have any idea of how much the mast weigh including standing and running rig (without the blood ....)? S/V Tiger Lily
@@gabrielfusaru1211 Gabriel, it's taking longer than I thought to do this right for you. I tried to draw an accurate sketch but I realized that you can see the thing better in the video if you freeze it at about 2:12. It is basically just a rectangular strap hinge with a 2.5 inch round hole in the middle of both pieces to accommodate the wiring and a 3 inch flange welded to the top strap that exactly matches the inside of the base of the mast to positively locate it on the step. I am searching through my files to find a photo or video that shows it with the hinge open and I will continue to try to sketch it for you but I can't take accurate measurements of the inside with the mast up. A lot of people have asked so I really must do something about it. Eventually I will have an actual pattern available but it's going to take a while.
Understood. I enjoyed the video, and I always find your commentary to be very interesting and full of knowledge. Will be on the lookout for your next video.
Great video of lowering the mast by hand. I was hoping to get some details on disconnecting the electronics. Currently refitting my boat and wires were a mess. I ended up cutting them at deck level. This spring I need to make the reconnect. Do you have any recommendations?
+Francotouristo The wiring in our mast, steaming light, masthead combination light and VHF antenna co-ax, are fitted with quick release connectors below the deck now, but we had to cut them the first time.
+Sv Octopus We have no idea but Steve Birch at the Vega Assn. of Great Britain deals in spare parts for the Vega. He might know. www.albinvega.co.uk/ It might be easier, though, to have one fabricated out of ss plate at a local machine shop.
'Nuther question for you, guys - I got my hinge installed, and I'm reinstalling my standing rigging today - but I wonder if you could give me an idea of just how long the mainsheet needs to be, to pull this trick off? Thank you so much, hope you enjoy the Seattle boat show!
The mainsheet needs to be long enough so that the four-part tackle can be let out enough to allow the boom to touch the aft lower shrouds when fully extended. We use two such tackles, interchangeably, both the same length. One as the mainsheet, the other as a boom vang/preventer when sailing off the wind. (On a Vega with roller reefing main, the vang must be connected to the end of the boom like the mainsheet so it has to be pretty long) To lower and raise the mast, as in this video, you need both of them shackled together. Sorry I can't give you the length in feet. We just rove the tackles off a whole spool, hooked it up and let the boom all the way out, then cut and whipped the line. I would estimate that both tackles require a total of about 150 feet of rope. We use 7/16 diameter line for all sheets because we find it more comfortable on the hands. Halyards have to be 3/8 inch to fit the masthead sheaves. If you are willing to use the same rope for all your lines, a 600 foot spool would be the way to go. More info here: cruisinglealea.com/afewlinesonrope.html
Hi Chuck Mike from vega 2499. I'm going to do a similar set up as yours except going aft due to roller furler. How is your delrin and hinge base fastened together and to the boat. Thank you Mike
The bottom half of the hinge is through-bolted with 4 countersunk machine screws. The screws are about 3/8" in dia and extend all the way through the Delrin block and the cabin top into the cabin with a stainless steel backing plate on the inside. It originally had a neoprene gasket under the hinge but the 3M 5200 I used when we had that off last (1996) is holding up just fine so...
It is a common problem in Vegas and is much discussed in the Albin Vega Group on Facebook. While we completely redesigned and rebuilt the bulkhead, simpler solutions are available that don't require so much interior demolition. Look up Steve Birch on Facebook. Steve is in the UK and sells a kit to reinforce the mast support beam. I think that's the simplest thing. You will get lots of advice in the Albin Vega Facebook Group. I Highly recommend it. The firs thing I would suggest is that you make sure your standing rigging is not too tight. It is a common cause of mast step compression. Second is check the machine screws where they attach the bulkhead to the tabs on the hull. Make sure the nuts are tight and the holes are not elongated.
Yes I all ready loosen up the shrouds and is better now .fiou ! But don't know exactly what is the right tension .next week I will get some help from the marina HERE Merci for your time and help . Nice of you. Cu Mario
This is kind of fascinating... Why didn't you take the boom off before lowering the mast? good thing you are doing the re-fit now.. in 10 years you might be too old -- ha How much does the mast weigh?
+Titus Tiger The arcane arts of the pre-industrial sailor. Some of the things in Levers' Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor are pretty amazing. astore.amazon.com/lealea-20/detail/0486402207
+Cruising Lealea thanks for the book suggestion I thought about buying an O'Day Daysailer. It has a similar step mast as yours.. it made me wonder why every (smaller) boat doesn't have this, since it make so much sense to raising and lowering a mast
+Titus Tiger A hinge is not always needed to lower the mast, if it is bolted to the mast mount with two bolts. You would remove the lower one and are able to lay the mast over the rotation axis of the top bolt. And by adding a mast-lowering-frame (i.ytimg.com/vi/MMlLTTGNrQA/maxresdefault.jpg) you don't have to use the boom for leverage, can lower the mast aft and even do that underway.
Guys you should set up a page on Patreon. You have fans. a few would contribute. OK never mind. I see you do have one. Why dont you promote it on each video? Maybe you did and I did not see. it. But remind folks that you have a Patreon page.
+Cruising Lealea My Bad, I checked and of course you are right. Since you don't have one then set it up. And just put a link in your videos.All your videos even the old ones.
+29200 days We have considered it. We do have fan funding buttons on most of our videos and on our channel page, plus a "Tip jar" on our blog page. Perhaps to subtle?
+Cruising Lealea Patreon is a great way to build a support group for your content production. It rewards you for additional content as your patrons pay per release. Motivating you to continue producing your usual great videos. and after a while building up enough income to be able to be full time content producers. I am in no way related to Patreon. I would just like to see you continue to be able to produce content.
+29200 days That's the thing. We don't want to be full time content producers. We want to be, and are, full time cruisers who produce content when it is convenient. Certainly, extra money is always welcome and will make things like this expensive refit easier but we are not looking for a full time job. The obstacle to turning Cruising Lealea into a substantial income is simply that we like to unplug and take off across oceans from time to time. One reason we have hesitated to use Patreon is that we don't want to disappoint with long periods of no uploads or frequent uploads of lesser quality.
The only SOB that has explained almost to detail how to forward lower a mast like on a Nor 'Sea 27. Other blogs are filmed from 100 miles away and don't pinpoint anchor points for your support and lowering.
Since chuck and Laura started this refit, I have to say it really makes my day when a new instalment shows up on my feed.
love the tabernacle
+Cawfee Dawg Thank you. The tabernacle makes our lives much easier when it comes to maintaining the rig.
Glad I watched this one. Found the pin wraps at West Marine and Vela Supply. Cool idea.
Enjoyed your 11 year old video in Redwood City. It’s funny I know West Marine in that area when it was called West Coast Ropes founded by a local guy, Randy Repass. Worked for West Marine for five years total, for the parts discount, of course,
Oh that reminds me of our cruise through the Dutch canals. Laying the mast for each and every bridge, all day :-)
+Two aboard Tuuli How long would it take you to drop and raise the mast ?
Thanks for sharing. I'm excited to see you guys raise the mast back up when all the work is done. :) It seems similar to an entire house rehab. I'm enjoying these videos!
That day was worth a few beers too. ;)
I haven't watched one of your videos for awhile. I do enjoy them. We finally purchased a 1976 Bristol 32 and have it docked in Superior, WI on Lake Superior. We love our boat.
That was a very interesting and informative video. I was a bit confused at first when you didn't remove the boom, but then I didn't understand the genus of the harness until I saw it all in action. Thank you so much for sharing and I look forward to observing the refit.
Great job, I'm setting my Chrysler 26 up so that I can take the mast down going aft since I want to take her back to the Great Lakes.
Great video, I've seen a few different tabernacle setups, most pretty similar. This is the first time I've seen any of them used. a bit thank you for the demonstration
Loved the pin wraps.. what a great idea!!!
+Chase Mixon When we first discovered Pin Wraps we did short video about them. More detail here th-cam.com/video/rfh52cQT9OU/w-d-xo.html
Thanks! that will be on my next one... hated those carter pins... #SMH
Nice method - might have to try putting our mast up in a similar fashion.
West Marine carries the Pin Wraps on their website.
Well, you made that look easy.
cool and a bit exiting, well done.)
Neat system you guys have there. We drop our mast rear wards but then we need to have a separate Gin Pole, you just need some rope. Much easier to find on a boat :-)
+funNstuff with the Foxwells Even better, we can lower the mast with the mainsail and cover on if need be. We have two, four part mainsheets that we shackle together for this operation. We have seen it done the other way, on our friend's Vega, Wren, but this system seems so much simpler. Anyway, it came with the boat d;^)
As a new vega owner and a a long time want to be owner you two have been a go to for what and how to. On going through the paper work I have found copies of the old news letters and you were there. Before the Internet age Chuck thank you for what you have done.for vega owners I know its your love of the boat and sailing. On looking at this video then your web site can I suggest lots of photos on the site. I was looking for a photo of the mast hidge to make one, then I see the rigging you have done. You two are a wealth of knowledge. I cant wait to see what type rigging you go to. Thank you mike
In April 1990, when I moved aboard Lealea, I found a box of newsletters and dashed of a membership application. Ten years later, Sid Rosen the publisher of the newsletter passed away and I took it over. I published on paper until 2006. Members of the old VODCA and American Vega Assn. helped with scanning and we got all the old newsletters all the way back to the 1970s scanned to .pdf and uploaded to the website at americanvega.org. I think that probably everything that anybody knows about the Albin Vega can be found on that web site or on CruisingLealea.com - which I have sorely neglected lately. I know I have published clear shots of the mast step. Damned if I can remember if it was in a video from Port Townsend or in the newsletter. So many have asked I guess I will have to make a point of revisiting it.
@@Cruisinglealea happy birthday thank you for what you've done. Did you see there is a vega in the jester?
Thank you
Excellent vid, great job ya'll.
Enjoy your video
Yhank you for this demonstration. Can you make a video when you will raise the mast?
Here you go. The whole process th-cam.com/video/PUWsV51wynk/w-d-xo.html
looking at his again. could this be doone if you had a spinnaker and the foils?
thank you Mike
Wow boom as a gein pole , you would never have to shiny the mast .
Chuck
Do you think if I were to remove the common mast plate. Then have a 3/16 copy made for the deck. Then have another copy made that would fit the mast. Then have the two hinged together I would be ok. Thanks mike
I'm in the process of installing a similar hinged mast step on Vega #3360. Can you shed any light as to what size fasteners and (more importantly) what sort of backing plates your mast step utilizes, if any? Thank you so much! You guys are our inspiration!
The bottom plate of the mast step is secured to the deck with four countersunk machine screws. They are about 5/16 inch thread size and are secured inside the cabin with nuts and washers over two stainless steel plates, one on either side of the main beam.
wow that going to help me it was the way to do it i try so different way every time got problem thak's
+Serge Landry Thank you, best of luck.
Great job! You're lucky to have that hinge on your mast! I don't, so I will definitely have one mounted next time the boat is unmasted. Thanks for sharing this very useful info! Do you have any idea of how much the mast weigh including standing and running rig (without the blood ....)? S/V Tiger Lily
+Uffen We have not weighed it, but we estimate 200 lbs more or less. Laura and I can carry it. (There is always blood.)
Chuck, could you post some sketches of the hinged mast step? Thanks in advance!
Sure thing. I think I have some photographs but I'll have to dig for them.
@@Cruisinglealea One more time: thank you!
@@gabrielfusaru1211 Gabriel, it's taking longer than I thought to do this right for you.
I tried to draw an accurate sketch but I realized that you can see the thing better in the video if you freeze it at about 2:12. It is basically just a rectangular strap hinge with a 2.5 inch round hole in the middle of both pieces to accommodate the wiring and a 3 inch flange welded to the top strap that exactly matches the inside of the base of the mast to positively locate it on the step. I am searching through my files to find a photo or video that shows it with the hinge open and I will continue to try to sketch it for you but I can't take accurate measurements of the inside with the mast up. A lot of people have asked so I really must do something about it. Eventually I will have an actual pattern available but it's going to take a while.
@@gabrielfusaru1211 I posted the best photos I could find on the Albin Vega Facebook page facebook.com/groups/169639133073151
Love the video,Might want to fix the playlist link in your desciption
+Review's For Free OOps, thanks for letting us know.
+Cruising Lealea No Problem,Cannot wait to see it fully remodel
Interesting video guys.
How often do you drop your mast like that?
+Sailboat Story We have done it half a dozen times over the years. It is easier and safer than going up in a Bosun's chair.
Understood. I enjoyed the video, and I always find your commentary to be very interesting and full of knowledge. Will be on the lookout for your next video.
Great video of lowering the mast by hand. I was hoping to get some details on disconnecting the electronics. Currently refitting my boat and wires were a mess. I ended up cutting them at deck level. This spring I need to make the reconnect. Do you have any recommendations?
+Francotouristo The wiring in our mast, steaming light, masthead combination light and VHF antenna co-ax, are fitted with quick release connectors below the deck now, but we had to cut them the first time.
Nice job guys! Chuck, do you know who sells those masks steps now? And that's a pretty noisy spot during salmon season.
+Sv Octopus We have no idea but Steve Birch at the Vega Assn. of Great Britain deals in spare parts for the Vega. He might know. www.albinvega.co.uk/ It might be easier, though, to have one fabricated out of ss plate at a local machine shop.
sorry belay my last I ment a roller furling with the foils. I guess I could remove the drum from the bow and have the foils walked out?
I think it could be done with another person managing the bottom end of the foil. But you would need more room on the dock than we have, I think.
@@Cruisinglealea or do the side stays and one from front of mast and drop the mast after. Wheellll sleeve thank you
'Nuther question for you, guys - I got my hinge installed, and I'm reinstalling my standing rigging today - but I wonder if you could give me an idea of just how long the mainsheet needs to be, to pull this trick off? Thank you so much, hope you enjoy the Seattle boat show!
The mainsheet needs to be long enough so that the four-part tackle can be let out enough to allow the boom to touch the aft lower shrouds when fully extended. We use two such tackles, interchangeably, both the same length. One as the mainsheet, the other as a boom vang/preventer when sailing off the wind. (On a Vega with roller reefing main, the vang must be connected to the end of the boom like the mainsheet so it has to be pretty long) To lower and raise the mast, as in this video, you need both of them shackled together. Sorry I can't give you the length in feet. We just rove the tackles off a whole spool, hooked it up and let the boom all the way out, then cut and whipped the line. I would estimate that both tackles require a total of about 150 feet of rope. We use 7/16 diameter line for all sheets because we find it more comfortable on the hands. Halyards have to be 3/8 inch to fit the masthead sheaves. If you are willing to use the same rope for all your lines, a 600 foot spool would be the way to go. More info here: cruisinglealea.com/afewlinesonrope.html
Chuck, Laura - thanks again. Very much. God bless!
Welcome back! I'm curious what the rope-thingy is around your neck?
Not sure. Normally, it would be my knife lanyard, but I don't see it in this video, just the draw strings on my hoody.
Hi Chuck Mike from vega 2499. I'm going to do a similar set up as yours except going aft due to roller furler. How is your delrin and hinge base fastened together and to the boat. Thank you
Mike
The bottom half of the hinge is through-bolted with 4 countersunk machine screws. The screws are about 3/8" in dia and extend all the way through the Delrin block and the cabin top into the cabin with a stainless steel backing plate on the inside. It originally had a neoprene gasket under the hinge but the 3M 5200 I used when we had that off last (1996) is holding up just fine so...
Hi Guys what material is the spacer below the tabernacle made out of? Thanks
The spacer is made of Delrin
That looks way easier than the gin pole method I used with mast going aft. Do you have to adjust the side stays as it comes down?
+crashkahuna Once it is set up, no adjustment required. The key is to get the shrouds and guys aligned with the pivot point.
Hello my Albin Vega mast compression . problem . Can't you give me some help. How to make the bulkhead stronger. N . a . simple way ...Mario
It is a common problem in Vegas and is much discussed in the Albin Vega Group on Facebook. While we completely redesigned and rebuilt the bulkhead, simpler solutions are available that don't require so much interior demolition. Look up Steve Birch on Facebook. Steve is in the UK and sells a kit to reinforce the mast support beam. I think that's the simplest thing. You will get lots of advice in the Albin Vega Facebook Group. I Highly recommend it. The firs thing I would suggest is that you make sure your standing rigging is not too tight. It is a common cause of mast step compression. Second is check the machine screws where they attach the bulkhead to the tabs on the hull. Make sure the nuts are tight and the holes are not elongated.
Yes I all ready loosen up the shrouds and is better now .fiou ! But don't know exactly what is the right tension .next week I will get some help from the marina HERE
Merci for your time and help . Nice of you. Cu Mario
why not take the boom off first? must be something I don't get.
+met9009 The boom acts a s gin pole. Without it you would not have any leverage as the angle on the halyard narrows.
This is kind of fascinating...
Why didn't you take the boom off before lowering the mast?
good thing you are doing the re-fit now.. in 10 years you might be too old -- ha
How much does the mast weigh?
+Titus Tiger The boom is needed for leverage. The mast weighs about 200 lbs all rigged up as in the video.
+Cruising Lealea
Humm, didn't think about it.. I was thinking it would add weight
+Titus Tiger The arcane arts of the pre-industrial sailor. Some of the things in Levers' Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor are pretty amazing. astore.amazon.com/lealea-20/detail/0486402207
+Cruising Lealea thanks for the book suggestion
I thought about buying an O'Day Daysailer. It has a similar step mast as yours.. it made me wonder why every (smaller) boat doesn't have this, since it make so much sense to raising and lowering a mast
+Titus Tiger A hinge is not always needed to lower the mast, if it is bolted to the mast mount with two bolts. You would remove the lower one and are able to lay the mast over the rotation axis of the top bolt.
And by adding a mast-lowering-frame (i.ytimg.com/vi/MMlLTTGNrQA/maxresdefault.jpg) you don't have to use the boom for leverage, can lower the mast aft and even do that underway.
Guys you should set up a page on Patreon. You have fans. a few would contribute. OK never mind. I see you do have one. Why dont you promote it on each video? Maybe you did and I did not see. it. But remind folks that you have a Patreon page.
+29200 days We do not have a page on Patreon.
+Cruising Lealea My Bad, I checked and of course you are right. Since you don't have one then set it up. And just put a link in your videos.All your videos even the old ones.
+29200 days We have considered it. We do have fan funding buttons on most of our videos and on our channel page, plus a "Tip jar" on our blog page. Perhaps to subtle?
+Cruising Lealea Patreon is a great way to build a support group for your content production. It rewards you for additional content as your patrons pay per release. Motivating you to continue producing your usual great videos. and after a while building up enough income to be able to be full time content producers. I am in no way related to Patreon. I would just like to see you continue to be able to produce content.
+29200 days That's the thing. We don't want to be full time content producers. We want to be, and are, full time cruisers who produce content when it is convenient. Certainly, extra money is always welcome and will make things like this expensive refit easier but we are not looking for a full time job. The obstacle to turning Cruising Lealea into a substantial income is simply that we like to unplug and take off across oceans from time to time. One reason we have hesitated to use Patreon is that we don't want to disappoint with long periods of no uploads or frequent uploads of lesser quality.