Mast Lift out at Woolwich Dock April 26, 2023.
The masts on the Margaret Rintoul have not been hoisted since they were varnished in the mid-1990s. Recently, the planks around the chain plates show signs of wear and tear, and the masts have become discoloured in areas where the rigging has worn away the varnish. While the rigging is inspected yearly, it has been a while since it has been replaced. It is time to prioritize some much-needed maintenance.
The weekend before the 27th of April, the crew gathered at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron to help with the preparation for the project. Chief among the list of tasks was removing most of the furnishings and all of the storage below deck to allow the shipwright access to the chainplates fore and aft. Don Finch and John Brooks (Brooksy) took on the task of unbolting all of the rigging deck fittings, bottle screws, and shackles in preparation for the mast lift the following Tuesday. This it was hoped, would avoid any delays in the lift out while the very expensive crane was in attendance.
John Sheridan and Phil Mulligan assisted with stripping the storage lockers and numbering and labelling boxes of everything from the lockers below deck. Sails, Mast booms and boat covers were removed and stored.
All this had to be carefully transported to Botanic Road and stored in Gouldie's 5-car garage.
Early on the morning of the 27th PK and Don Finch motored the yacht from the mooring in Neutral Bay to the dock at Woolwich in preparation for the mast hoisting.
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At Woolwich Dock, the crane is prepared for the lift... |
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Crane being readied for mast lift
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| Main Mast ready for lift |
Phil West and the Sheerline Yacht Mast Team supervise the lift
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| Mast clears the deck |
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| In the air weighing 600+ Kgs |
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The Hardstand is about 10 meters above the floating dock
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| Landing the mainmast in the transport cradles |
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| Margaret alongside and stickless |
Phil West of Sheerline Yacht Masts supervised the mast lift and the storage.
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John Brooks and John Sheridan removing mast fittings |
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Brooksy and Shero examine the lower cross tree fitting
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Phil's offsider removing the mast crane on the mainmast |
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The tangle of rigging and fittings are all carefully catalogued by Phil West so as to facilitate the replacement and manufacture of new hardware.
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Mainmast stripped and sanded
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Mizzen Mast Stripped and sanded
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Top of mainmast shaped to fit the mast crane |
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Mizzen mast with sail track and fittings removed
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The mainmast, stripped of fittings still weighs more than 400kg... |
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Mainmast and Mizzen partway through the preparation for finishing |
All the old fastening holes were drilled and plugged with Oregan plugs as is best practice.
This may seem a trivial task, consider however that the mainmast sail track has at least 200 fastenings and the cabling running on either side of the track has a similar number so say 800 penetrations to be drilled plugged and sanded...
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On inspection a few areas of water damage were identified, Parko employed his magic to make them disappear good as new...
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Mainmast primed and bonded with 25%, 50% and 75% prep coats, ready for the first of 12 coats of varnish |
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Wild Oats XI calls the shed home between regattas... |
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Parko, AKA Michael Parkins explaining a detail to Bruce Gould.
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The varnish belowdecks is in great condition and only requires a touch-up. The mast butt likewise. |
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Damaged planks around the portside chainplate...
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Dumpling keeps an eye on things in the yard...
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New spreader ends by JBC Engineering laser cut from 316 Stainless ready for welding |
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Fitting and fabrication by JBC Engineering |
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New Mizzen Mast Rigging bands are underway. |
Mizzen Mast Crane old and new...
Thanks to all for the help and expertise: -
David Kellett AO, Woolwich Dock. Facilitated access and workspace and storage
Phil West and the team at Sheerline Yacht Masts, Rigging services
Shaun McKnight and Team, Project Management
Peter Owens at Babylon Effects, (Mast preparation and finish)
Michael Parkins (Parko), Shipwright services
George Atkinson and Team at JBC Engineering, Stainless Fabrication and Restoration
Stan Edwards (Financial support)
Margaret Rintoul's crew: -
John Brooks (Brooksy)
Don Finch (Donny)
Phil Mulligan (Phil)
John Sheridan (Shero), Sandblasting and painting
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