Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I am looking for photos and ideas about making a - Trailering center mast step, mast support - for when you are traveling and want support for the middle of your mast if it is not sitting on the cabin roof. I have seen this before but for the life of me can not find a thing about it now in the forum. The one i am interested in is made of abs or pvc pipe and is cut out at the top in order to cradle the mast. I know that this is a simple project but always try to find out the flaws in my thinking first from other people's experiences. Can anyone hear lead me to the thread on this subject please?
I am looking for photos and ideas about making a - Trailering center mast step, mast support - for when you are traveling and want support for the middle of your mast if it is not sitting on the cabin roof. I have seen this before but for the life of me can not find a thing about it now in the forum. The one i am interested in is made of abs or pvc pipe and is cut out at the top in order to cradle the mast. I know that this is a simple project but always try to find out the flaws in my thinking first from other people's experiences. Can anyone hear lead me to the thread on this subject please?
Scroll down thru the posts and you will see a C250 on stands. On a Windows PC... Save the picture to your downloads folder then open that picture from the folder and you should be able to scroll in for a closer look.
Another option I saw was someone took a 4x4 and cut it to the correct length then screwed a piece of 4" PVC pipe (maybe 6") cut in half to the top of the 4x4. Add a little carpet and you're ready to go.
I used a 4x4, like GaryB mentioned. I trimmed the sides to fit inside the mast step and drilled a hole so the mast hold-down bolt keeps it in place. At the top, I just cut a shallow V shape to cradle the mast. Works fine.
Solomon Smith TANGO 89/WK/TR/#5942 Petoskey, Michigan
I wrapped a scrap piece of carpet around the pulpit and pushpit tubing to protect them from scratches, and lashed the TR mast to them. I lashed a cockpit cushion to the mast to protect the companionway hatch. I had no support for the mast at the mast tabernacle. The mast can flex, but not enough to hurt anything. I towed mine from Florida to Ohio, twice to Iowa and back, and twice to Michigan and back, as well as numerous shorter distances (100 miles round trip) with no damage.
My thinking is that, whenever you add a piece of equipment or a procedure that is unnecessary, it increases your preparation time, it adds equipment that you have to carry and store and find the next time you want to use it, and it increases the time and effort required to prepare the boat to launch when you arrive. I believe in the KISS approach.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
Well this is what i ended up with so i thought i should at least put in a few photos to finish the thread with. The pipe is thin wall 3 inch with a OD of 3.25 and a ID of 3 inch. I was looking at thick wall but the OD was 3.5 inch and my mast step is not wide enough to fit it. Not to worry the thin wall is quite strong enough for this job and will last a long time. The mast fit well into the tee on top as you can see i cut it in half so the mast slips right down into it. Hope some else can get some good from this thread.
I like that idea too about fewer setup devices but I still have the center mast holder made from 2X4s. It straddles the two lifeline stanions by resting on them. It traps itself on the lifeline on one side and is tied to the other end. A picture is better for this. The mast is carried to one side of center to allow easy access to the cabin. We use the boat on the highway stops so this works. Mast is tied to both pulpits using carpet and lines with special line tied for hard braking. The 2X4s also provide place to carry the boom leaving the cabin less cluttered. The boat is also ready for hoist launch and motoring to a mooring.
Well this is what i ended up with so i thought i should at least put in a few photos to finish the thread with. The pipe is thin wall 3 inch with a OD of 3.25 and a ID of 3 inch. I was looking at thick wall but the OD was 3.5 inch and my mast step is not wide enough to fit it. Not to worry the thin wall is quite strong enough for this job and will last a long time. The mast fit well into the tee on top as you can see i cut it in half so the mast slips right down into it. Hope some else can get some good from this thread.
Thanks Slim for the pics and dimensions. Our support is made of wood and bulky/heavy. I had seen this earlier but couldn't remember where. I see a trip to HD in our near future.
Lynn Buchanan 1988 C25 SR/WK #5777 Sailynn Nevada City, CA
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.