Erie Canal Radar Arch Removal

This is a 1981 56' Hatteras FBMY. Do a search on the Great Loop and you may find more pics from our trip that might help. We fretted about having it hinged (very expensive) and opted to have the guys in Albany Y.C. take it down while also changing our zinc anodes over to Mag. Wasn't till we got to Oswego and put it up that I realized that the job was no big deal. A tall guy in the middle or one on either side to hold it up while another puts in (or takes out) the bolts. Those shark fins really help line things up.
The supports I made are 2"x 6" pressure treated lumber, a piece of PVC pipe cut in half and outdoor carpet wherever it touched fiberglass.

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Exact same setup. You probably have maybe an extra 40 lbs up there, but you'll be fine. It's a DIY job with 3 people. The arch will lay down on the side rails, supported as I put in my PM, and the Bimini will lay on the front rail. You won't have radar or satellite TV though unless you mount the satellite down on the side rail (which wouldn't be hard) , and you probably won't want to run in dense fog. Nice looking boat btw. Even before I became a captain that was my dream boat. It took me 25+ years for that dream to come true and get to learn every nook and cranny of one and cruise her.

I too did the entire great loop in a 1988 65' Hatteras MY stretched to 75'. Our arch was already hinged, I put rope around the helm chair base to hold it while my mates pulled the pins on each side. Then we lowered it. We then had to remove the mast head and rotate that on sawhorses 60 degrees because the radar was sticking up too much. All in all it was pretty easy. I have pictures but would have to search for them. Yeah 3 people can fold it up or down.

I'm talking from experience. Myself and the owner were in our 60's and we had one young guy. You're not deadlifting, just rotating it down, especially if it's got the fins. Of course "many hands make light work", but it's not a hard job with 3.

I used adjustable plastic saw horses. Rubber maid ones I think. they worked perfectly. Really it's just resting there. I lowered everything in Troy, raised it in Oswego, all flat calm water between...….

Is the entire arch on hinges where it meets the boat? If so, it's relatively easy to lower the whole arch. But will most likely have to remove the part holding the radar on the masthead, this will now stick up too much with the arch lowered down, but can leave the masthead attached. It looks like there is a seam on this part, how it's secured is anyones guess though. On the 1988 65' Hatteras MY I ran, it was 18'6 to the top of the windscreen stainless pipe that went around at the top of the windscreen which was our highest point with the arch folded down and masthead removed.

How long is that section the radar is on and how is it connected? I see a seam and looks sleeved. I'd love to hear it's slid on and siliconed or bolted underneath. Otherwise that could be an issue. You'd have to angle the arch down into the fantail somehow, in which case it's good that the arch isn't hinged.
P.S. I don't think there was a lot of snow upstate which should leave the pool height lowered. That would be good news. Be sure to get the latest info once the Erie canal opens.

Yeah, you'll just have to angle it down. Should fit. So you probably won't need supports at all. Just lay some carpet down where the paint will touch the floor and tie it down good. A not hard job may have even gotten easier. I think you said you can unplug all the wires? If so be sure to attach string to them to make it easier to get them back where they go. If not you'll just have to snip them as you move the arch, and reconnect them is Oswego. Sounds like your only real concern is if the canal will be open. Good luck. Oh, are you changing your anodes to mags? Albany Y.C. can get you a diver if you need.