Cut down mast

[Rightsideup]

Ladies and Gents,

Another quick question, we have been sailing our newly renovated O'Day Daysailer but are finding stepping the mast a real issue as we cannot keep it in the water.

As a solution I have been trying to find another mast that I can cut/ have cut to size so we can trailer it rigged. By my count I need to take about 6-7 feet off the mast (and re-size the sail)....to give us about 20ft on the mast.
I know this will be sacrilage (sp?) to some...but this little boat was bought (cheaply) as a 'cottage' boat for (me and) my three sons to learn the basics, before we move up.
I renovated it as per before posts and don't want to sell it at this point.
By my count (as a graduate engineer) I can remove the topmost section above the stays to make this work...what are my issues with doing this next season?
Otherwise this little boat is perfect for us and I am not concerned about losing speed, this is a teaching/ learning tool for us and there is pretty much more sail than we can handle, with the big main as it is.

 

[dscribner]

RightSide,

I don't think this is what you want to do. If the mast is keel stepped, you could cut it a little shy of the cabin top, and add a plate and a tabernacle, thereby making the mast deck stepped. The mast would be the same height from the deck so your sails and all your rigging remains as is. You'd need to re-tune your rigging once it's up, but that's it. Add a Johnson lever to the forestay and a couple of temporary guys, you can raise a 25 foot mast in 10 minutes.

My Lancer 25 is a daysailer/pocket cruiser. We sail almost every weekend and step the mast every time we sail. Once you get good at it, it isn't a big deal at all.