Hello everyone,
Can I bend your ears? My family and I built a reddish style sail for Peggy Sue (23ft westerly pageant) last year. Since then I have been working up the courage to convert the mast. From reading PJR; the back issues of the magazines, and the forums the design is quite clear. Peggy is to get a tabernacle made of wood and encapsulated and glassed into the boat. Then a 6m aluminium pole (ahem mast) will be ratchet strapped in.
The main problem is… I’m petrified of taking the old mast down, and cutting up my boat to fit the tabernacle. Secondary issues are a steel water tank embedded where I’d like my mast (found a work around there), and I have to repair the delaminating foredeck (seems like the perfect time to do while cutting holes and reinforcing the area right behind it?). I wanted to do everything my self but after a year of sleepless nights I’m thinking perhaps it’s time to have the tabernacle fitted by brave and skilled people.
The main question: Does anyone know of any businesses in NL (Belgium or Germany also an option in a pinch) that would be able to fit a tabernacle as described above?
A Secondary question: Failing that, does anyone have any tips to make this feel any less terrifying?
Finally: Tips about taking the old mast down would be most welcome (I get dizzy just stood at the base when I look up… not very sailory I know).
Apologies for the long post. This is surely a topic that has been handled many times before (couldn’t quite find it though) on here. Thank you for taking the time to read as well… keeping things short and sweet is a skill I’m yet to master.
Warmest regards,
Zachary