Independent guide: The scope of a mast-out service varies between riggers. Use this page as a checklist to confirm what yours includes.
Quick answer
A mast-out service unsteps the mast with a crane, lays it on trestles, and inspects and services everything that is hard to reach aloft. It is the most complete inspection a rig can get short of destructive testing, and is the natural time to re-rig, rewire, service the furler and paint or treat corrosion. Plan it with haul-out so the crane, yard and trades line up.
Why take the mast out
A rigger in a bosun's chair can see a lot, but not everything. With the mast horizontal and at waist height:
- every fitting can be removed, cleaned and examined
- fasteners can be checked for corrosion and replaced with isolation compound
- sheaves and axles can be spun, measured and replaced
- the mast can be sighted for straightness and damage
- wiring can be tested end to end
- the mast step and heel fitting can be examined properly
What a mast-out service covers
| Area | Typical checks |
|---|---|
| Masthead | Sheaves, axles, crane, tangs, forestay and backstay attachments, lights, instruments, antenna |
| Spreaders | Roots, bases, tips, end fittings, rake, boots and chafe guards |
| Tangs and T-ball fittings | Cracks, elongated holes, backing plates, corrosion around fasteners |
| Mast section | Straightness, dents, cracks near fittings, paint or anodising failure |
| Gooseneck and vang fittings | Wear, pin fit, fastener corrosion |
| Halyard exits and sheaves | Wear, sharp edges, rope chafe |
| Wiring and conduit | Continuity, chafe, connectors, cable strain relief |
| Mast base and step | Compression damage, corrosion, drainage, alignment |
| Furler | Bearings, foil joints, swivel, drum — see furler service |
What is usually done at the same time
- a complete re-rig or selected standing rigging replacement
- running rigging renewal while halyards are accessible
- LED masthead and steaming lights, VHF antenna and cable
- instrument sensors and cabling
- mast painting or corrosion treatment
- replacing worn spreaders or spreader boots
Planning the job
- Book the crane and hardstand together. A keel-stepped mast is normally lifted with the boat afloat at a mast crane or on the hardstand under a mobile crane.
- Allow time. Parts found worn during inspection may take days or weeks to arrive, especially masthead castings or model-specific fittings.
- Secure the boat while the mast is out. Cover the mast hole or partners, and protect deck wiring glands.
- Plan the restep. New wire needs a dock tune after stepping and a re-check after the first sail.
Keel-stepped versus deck-stepped
A keel-stepped mast passes through the deck to a step on the keel or floor. The mast step, partners and mast boot are all part of the service, and the step can collect water and corrode. A deck-stepped mast sits in a shoe on deck, supported below by a compression post or bulkhead — common on catamarans, trailer sailers and many production cruisers — and that support structure needs inspection too.
By boat
- Catamarans: deck-stepped, tall masts, often on a compression post in the saloon bulkhead
- Classic yachts: timber masts need moisture checks, glue lines and fastening inspection
- Racing yachts: carbon spars need specialist inspection for delamination and impact damage
- Charter yachts: high hours; documentation matters for operators
Frequently asked questions
How often should the mast come out?
There is no universal interval. Many owners unstep the mast when re-rigging, roughly every ten years or so, and some offshore and racing boats do it more often for a full inspection. Unstep sooner if an inspection finds corrosion or damage aloft, the mast step is suspect, or the mast wiring needs work.
What can be found with the mast out that cannot be seen aloft?
Corrosion under masthead fittings and tangs, cracks at spreader roots, worn sheaves and axles, loose rivets, damaged internal conduits and wiring, compression damage at the mast base and corrosion in the mast step. These are difficult to assess properly from a bosun's chair.
Can the mast-out service be combined with antifouling?
Yes, and it is common. Coordinating the crane lift with a haul-out avoids paying for separate yard visits, and a keel-stepped mast step is easier to inspect when the boat is on the hardstand.