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wrote:
Cut the hasp, they're generally a lot lighter duty than a
padlock. Dremel tools with fibre reinforced cut off wheels
will go through thin s.s. like butter.

I second the Dremel tool proposal, very efficient in my experience and
a useful tool for many other purposes, just be careful to wear safety
glasses.

Since I have the dubious benefit of a dismasting experience, my
recommendation for shedding the rigging quickly is to knock out the
clevis pins with a drift pin and hammer. It's much quicker than
cutting unless you have one of the explosive gizmos, and can use it
properly in adverse conditions.

Cutting rigging is not often required. Good vice grips and a knife
should do it.

When I was dismasted in a rough race, a tow was close, and no need
of panic to unburden the boat. Depending on contitions, it is
better to salvage the rig. The only damaged part on mine was the
mast extrusion, crushed at the spreaders, folded in half, because of
no compression tube on the spreader bolt inside. We even saved all
the sails and windex. There was temptation to chuck it all, but only
for a moment. If I had had to pick out the round wire clevis locks,
a pair of pliers or a fid would have been fastest, if fingers were
too stiff.

Terry K