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Motoring with mast down

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1297 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/15/2021 : 16:45:57

Glad you asked
If you ever plan to use the boat on the water with the mast down and still be able to put the pop-top up, you will want to consider doing the following

1) Raise the bow end of the mast resting in its cradle on top of the pulpit rail by about 10 or 12"
2) Support the mast in the center from the tabernacle mast step
3) Make a holder to support the stern end of the mast from the fuel tank rail in order to accommodate the rudder to function from the gudgeons

Normally you place the mast in its bow pulpit cradle, support the mast in the center and place the stern mast holder with its pintles in the gudgeons, tie things down and voila... ready to go.

But... if you wish to motor-sail with the mast down on the water and want to use your pop-top, you need to raise the mast to allow the pop-top sufficient room below the mast.

Make a three legged cradle and attach the legs to the stanchions of the pulpit
Support the center of the mast from the mast step
Make and attach a support connected to the fuel tank horizontal stanchion rail to support the back en of the mast

Henk & Johanna
"Floating", a few off your "barnacles".
"Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016)
"Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018)
"Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023)
"Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1297 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2021 : 18:35:19

For those who wish to increase the height of a horizontal mast at the bow in order to motor-sail with the pop-top up or want to open the hatch wider and more easily, here is a close-up of a sturdy "bow chaser", we made for that purpose.

The 1" clamps are available at Amazon and the 1/2" stainless steel tubing at a Metalmarkt store. However, a half round stainless steel cradle to fit and hold the mast is hard (impossible) to find... until

Johanna suggested I should perhaps look at using a cooking pan... after all they are made of quality stainless steel she suggested... what??... we both laughed out loud...

But... sure enough, a thrift store close by had all kinds of pots and pans available for a couple of bucks. That is precisely what I used as per photo.

It still needs to be refined down by about 2" with rounded corners which will be done soon. Watch out though when cutting and hack sawing the cooking pan in half... it is under a lot of tension. The pvc spacer insert is part of a 4" drainpipe and remolded with a heat gun to fit the shape of the mast. The cradle is also lined with felt

For transportation of the mast on the trailer you want to make sure the cradle is sturdy as it must be able to withstand sideways motion, shocks and sudden hard stops

Edited by - zeil on 04/02/2021 18:54:11

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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.