hi folks,

this is just a response in general to the prices of stepping and
unstepping the mast. not that you would ever want to, but ... can't
you do this by hand too ? i'm sure i read an article somewhere
recently about using your own lines, making some kind of an upside down
"V" shaped lever, etc, and using that to put your own mast up. it
didn't look particularly hard, though i see no reason for doing it
yourself like that if there is a perfectly good crane sitting there at
the yard just waiting for your business. anyone ever done this,
step/un-step your own mast without the use of a crane, on a large
enough boat you need mechanical assistance i mean ? how hard was it ?
seems like it would be a good skill to know in case of emergencies,
though i'm not sure you'd ever do it ... i guess if the mast goes over
the side most of the time you're more worried about cutting it loose
and getting it away from the boat so you don't get a hole in your hull
than you are about saving the mast