I can't remember the exact dimesnions of the mast, but the base is a 6m x 152 mm alloy tube and the topmast is an octagonal mast of Oregan, 3900 long, with 600 of that fitted into the tube.  The taper was from 152 to about 45.

I neither had the need nor the nerve to try lowering the mast, however, a friend and I helped Shirley raise and lower hers when she was in NZ - two of us would have sufficed.  I think prudence alone would dictate having someone there to catch it if you let the rope go too quickly on the way down.  I've no idea what mine weighs, but it's very light - a lot lighter than the one on Speedwell.  You can find out the weight of the tube on the Internet: I could easily manhandle the topmast even before I planed it all down.  On Missee Lee, we always found a high point and attached a line to the truck.  That was very easy and reliable.

"If I understand correctly, the collar around the mast at the top of the tabernacle is welded to a pipe through which the pivot bolt passes. If you don't mind my imposing on your time, I'd like to know, how do you retain the mast when lowering it?"  Yes, that is how it is.  I have a stainless steel saddle at the base of the alloy tube and use a small rigging screw attached to the tabernacle to prevent the mast rotating.  When lowering the mast, the idea is to have ropes leading aft from this saddle (via turning blocks) to cleats/winches so that you can ease them off while the heel goes forward and up. Hence it's handly to have someone there to catch it, if it all happens a little too quickly!

Dear Annie,

i trust that your distractions are all pleasant ones.

thanks for the photos, very clear. 

Can you / have you / could you raise the mast singlehanded? 

can you remind us how heavy it is and what dimensions.

Maxime,

I hope Annie may respond with better photos.

I attached some screenshots from what I could find on her new blog.

If I understand correctly the mast band is a thin-ish piece of stainless steel flat bar. The bar has been bent into a circle and welded to a stainless steel tube. Between the fabricated mast band and the mast there is also a ring of Delrin (I think) Mylar to prevent wearing and galvanic corrosion on the mast.

Annie's response to me from some time ago suggests that there is (was?) a drawing made by the metal worker who did the fabrication. Maybe it would be possible to get that from her?

Scott.

Hello Maxime,

I am certain that somewhere I asked this question and Annie answered. I can't find it right now. My recollection is that Fanshi has a mast band that was fabricated professionally.

I will add Annie's actual response, if I find it before she writes back here.

edit: At the moment this link will take you to a page with Annie's response at the very bottom. I think these 'deep links' to specific replies might not be reliable, so I am including a screenshot here as well.

Scott.

Hi Scott.  I'm sorry,  I can't share the secret, for the simple and sufficient reason that I haven't yet worked it out for myself.  Indeed,  I was starting to think that I'd probably never make use of the tabernacle for its intended purpose, it all seemed too daunting.  Thn Shirley and Julie lowered Speedwell's mast so quickly that it was all over before I got there!  So now I'm excited about the idea again.  As soon as I know what I'm doing, I shall put it in my blog,  even if I forget about posting here.