Sailing Umavideo

Turning Our Powerboat Back Into a Sailboat | Step 487

May 24, 2026 · 29 min · 159K views

Uma stands on deck as mast rises against blue sky

What this video covers

After two and a half years without a mast, Dan and Kika step Uma's new aluminum mast using a crane at the John Maas yard.Watch The mast is built by John Maas, a Dutch manufacturer operating since 1971, and is configured for four headsails: a spinnaker halyard, a Code Zero halyard, a spare halyard, and a separate halyard for a larger Genoa, plus a solent stay with its own halyard — allowing two roller furlers on the bow for wing-on-wing downwind sailing without a spinnaker.3:01 The new boom features mid-boom mainsheet attachment, internally run reefing lines, an outhaul, and a hydraulic boom vang replacing a topping lift.8:09 Spreader lights are Lumetech dimmable red/white units on Deutsch plugs; turnbuckles are Blue Wave stainless-steel chassis with press-fit bronze threads to prevent galling.4:09 Two factory-installed conduits run inside the mast — a lesson from a difficult retrofit in Puerto Rico.6:53 John Maas seals the mast base with a foam block and poured epoxy to stop water tracking into the bilge, a problem Uma's old mast caused for years.24:09 Forestay, furler, backstay, and shrouds are set but final tuning waits until the boat is back in the water.18:07 Sail measurement is the next step.28:09

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