It took approximately 2 weekends to remove the hardware from the decks of Hot Tamale. This included the inside and outside jib tracks, the winches, the teak on the combings, the running lights, the gas, water and pumpout fittings, the stanchions and everything else. 

The stanchions, pulpit and pushpit required the most agility.  The screws for these pieces went through the deck and the nuts were located inside the cabin, often in difficult to reach places.  It took many a contortionist like move, to securely a fix a wrench to the nut and then call out to my mate to undo the screw.  Often I would loose my grip on the nut and we would have to stop until I had re-established contact. 

You may wonder why I was the one slithering around in tight spots below decks. Hand size.  My hands are much smaller than my husband's and it was easier for me get a grip on the problem, so to speak.

We estimated it would take use 2 to three times as long to re-attach the hardware.  In other words it took 4 days to take it off so it would take 8 to 12 days to put it back on.  We we wrong - very wrong.  It took 16 days to reattach the most important items.  We re-installed non essential items like the cock pit speakers after we launched the boat.  The inside jib track and the handrails still aren't attached.  (Maybe this year).  More about this later.

The toughest pieces to remove were the water and pumpout fittings and the forward navigation lights.  These had been thoroughly sealed when installed - which is good.  Getting them unstuck proved to be a problem until we found the 'solution' in DIY Boat - http://www.diy-boat.com/.  Lestoil, the household cleaner, turned out to be the magic formula.  It doesn't hurt the gelcoat if removed quickly and it dissolves the 3M marine sealant. 

Finding Lestoil proved to be difficult in Toronto, but we searched and finally found some in a hardware store.  Within minutes the stubborn items came unstuck.