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I will be decorating my 2005M with Christmas lights for our annual boat parade. I have never lowered the mast with the boom attached. Is it possible to lower the mast to the rear mast crutch with the boom and mainsail still attached. I need to lower the mast in order to attach lights to the upper and lower shrouds.

We always just attached them fore and aft and used the halyard to hoist

Win wrote: Is it possible to lower the mast to the rear mast crutch with the boom and mainsail still attached.

Done it many times on my '05 . Even towed it 250 miles that way. As the mast comes down I push/rotate the boom to port and it will lay folded and connected.

Here is a pic:


Cheers,
Jim

It really takes only a few minutes to remove the boom.

If you are careful, it shouldnt be a problem. If things go wrong you can break your gooseneck, which is expensive to fix,and important to fix right.

I would remove the boom

YMMV.

Unless I was going to powersail because I wanted the sails lit up - which might be tricky at slow speeds in a parade - I would also use the jib and main halyards to pull up the strings, a couple of turns/wraps around the stays will keep them in place once everything is up. I would just be sure and tape well and strain relief all connections and would consider adjusting the extra pigtail length beween the first and last lights when I connected a string together. But be sure an post a picture or two when you get her done, so we can see the results.

I totally agree with KHE. It only takes a couple of minutes to remove the boom. Why take the risk??

As an aside: Where can one but 12 volt Christmas lights?

dennisneal wrote: Where can one but 12 volt Christmas lights?

A small 150watt inverter should handle a couple of the new LED strings of lights. Mine ran about $30 and will handle 15 amps maximum. Watch the amperage and keep your engine running so you don't run the battery down too much.

I leave the boom attached when lowering the mast on my 07M, and also leave it attached for towing
Do not forget to CLOSE THE HATCH before lowering the mast. If it is open it reduces the room available for the gooseneck when the mast comes down.

I have a string of LED's for decorating Oskar, solar powered so no worries about running the batteries down. I guess availability of sunlight/solar power is one advantage we southern hemisphere dwellers have at Christmas

IIRC, there are far fewer lights on a 12v light string. Although I keep saying I'll do something, I still haven't decorated my MAC but I do think about it alot. My neighborhood has been having an annual boat parade for several years now, it is a big hit and there are usually at least 30 boats. Every year its clear that the winners are the ones with a lot of power being used, which always means a generator on board so that you can use regular 110v lights.

Like Scott says, if you put the lights up fore and aft instead of the shrouds, you will have a more dramatic effect.

If anyone has decorated their mac's in the past, perhaps you could post some pictures to inspire the rest of us!

The new LED light strings are rated for up to 210 watts. The individual light strings vary in power usage depending on the number of lights on a string. The very small LED lights have 60 lights to a string. The somewhat larger lights have 25 lights to a string. Each string is approximately 15 feet long. The watt usage of each string ranges from 4 to 6 watts depending on which light string selected (25 or 60). At a total rating of 210 watts, it is possible to string together safely between 35 and 50 strings. At 15 feet per string, there is a minimum of 525 linear feet available. I estimate I will need the following:
1. Pulpit to stern along lifelines - 30 feet x 2 = 60Ft. 4 light trings.
2. Head stay (Furled genoa) 30 feet. If wrapped around tightly 60 to 90 feet. 2 to 6 light strings.
3 Mast 30 feet. 2 light strings. If wrapped around mast 4 to 6 light strings.
4 Upper shrouds 30 feet x 2 + 60 Ft. 4 light strings.
5 Lower shrouds 15 feet x 2 = 30 Ft. 2 light strings
6 Topping lift to mast crutch 30 Ft. 2 light strings

I estimate a minimum of 18 light strings. I have sufficient leeway to double that number if needed. I have a 750 watt inverter that will easily handle the load.

If feasible, I also plan to have a lighted Snowman or Santa Claus on the bow.

Does anybody see any glaring flaws in the above plan? I am also open to any and all suggestions for changes and improvements. This board is an invaluable source. Thanks to Heath, the moderators and especially al the Mac sailors.

Win

Win wrote:I estimate a minimum of 18 light strings. I have sufficient leeway to double that number if needed. I have a 750 watt inverter that will easily handle the load.

If feasible, I also plan to have a lighted Snowman or Santa Claus on the bow.

Does anybody see any glaring flaws in the above plan?

My thought was how many DC Amps does that 750 watts translate into? Can your alternator keep up? You don't want to run down the battery and not be able to start the engine.

It sounds cool and you should take some pics when you have it done.