Speed problem

I have a database that I need to pull the schema off of.  When
I run pg_dump -s the machine rolls over and dies.  To the tune
of I left it running over the weekend and still had 98% cpu
usage by postgress monday.  I managed to do a 'delete from statistics'
and it accomplished this overnight, but when I then ran a vacuum to
actually remove the garbage it still hadn't finished after 48 hours.
Anyone have any suggestions?  (Other than kicking myself for not
writing them down as I created them).

Site setup:

RH Linux 5.0
postgresSql 6.3.2
Database size 244MB

Thanks
Roger Books
State of Florida/DivCom