headstay

The boatyard says I may have to remove the head stay on my E 27 before they haul her out! Since the mast is deck stepped,is this a problem? If I slack off on the back stay and head stay and then disconnect the head stay will the shrouds and back stay alone keep the mast standing? I also need to...

I'm looking for the pin to pin measurement for an E33RH "stock" head stay. The current arrangement on my boat is an old Mariner roller furling system; sail hanks, head stay spins on big swivels on the top and bottom. It is difficult to get an accurate measurement around this contraption.