I turned around before trying to go under a low bridge in my Gulf Coast 18. I'd like to continue down the lake sometime and be able to lower to pass under two bridges in my route. I've read about others who do it on a regular basis. The question I have is what you do with the jib and boom? We practiced lowering it after taking out and decided I'd try to use the outfit I have on our Mac 26s, a winch on a jin pole which I think will attach at the bottom and I'll add some mini side stays. I'd like to get it down to the shortest time and effort necessary. Any suggestions from those doing it?
going under low bridges
- Thread starter Jansen
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The Macgregor video shows him doing it on the fly but without a boom or jib. They would add a considerable amount of weight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bektxtfBKdY&NR=1
Heres another solution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEx504WaE0I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bektxtfBKdY&NR=1
Heres another solution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEx504WaE0I
i have been making these systems for years. up to and including one that was 63 ft above the water. it is simple to make one time,some expense. it is replace your outer chain plates.make the attachments to stays the same center line as your pivot bolt in the mast base.if you have lowers, make a bar that extends to the chain plate in the opposite direction that you wish to lower the mast. then make a quick disconnect on the fore or aft stay,witch ever opposite way you wish to lower. then put a new lock bolt in the tabernacle.and check old pivot bolt for deformation replace with new.if any signs of ware increase size and install 2 nylon washers of appropriate size and diameter. then re tune your mast.test it.make any adjustments. then go sailing. you can raise and lower as many times as you want. this works because everything stays in tension. but check the bolts that the tabernacle is secured with. increase size if needed. cptskip....
Hi Skip,
I understand moving the chain plates so the mast will stay in tension side to
side, makes sense. I have "baby stays" on my MacGregor 26s that keep it somewhat straight. I never thot of lowering the mast forward, do you or anyone do it that way? That way you could leave the jib on the stay. My Gulf Coast 18 doesn't have a backstay so your way probable wouldn't work on it unless I put one on. Does the boom stay in place?
just rig a topping lift, it cllips to the end of the boom, and use your mainsheet to control the dip. The boom will act as a "gin pole" give you leverage. Dropping it forward allows you to stay in the cockpit after you pull the lock pin on the hinged mast plate.
I'm thinking he just lowers it enough to get under the bridge, not all the way horizontal where the sail might get in the water. If it's a trailerable boat, set up to drop the mast to the rear, it would be illogical to change the configuration.
Jansen didn't mention how low the bridge clearance was, I think that would make a difference.
Jansen didn't mention how low the bridge clearance was, I think that would make a difference.
There are 2 bridges in my route I want to go. One is pretty low, probable 15' and the other higher, maybe 30 or so. Both boats I have are trailerable and would drop to the rear easiest and I have a jin pole setup that works on the Mac26s and might be adapted to the GC18. I guess it's not too common to do what I want to do, lower the mast with the sails attached. I may try it on the Mac on land and see if it will work. Thanks for the help.
Marvin Jansen
I have an old Mac like yours (1990 26S) and the boat usually lives about a mile from the launch at a fairly remote mountain lake (in South Park Colorado)
When I get done trailer sailing, I drop the main sail (slugs still in the mast) and put the main sail bag on. After pulling the boat out of the water, I then disconnect the boom from the mast (pop a pin out in my case) and then lower the mast into the crutch using the gin pole/baby stay sytem your familiar with. As the mast lowers, I may have to gently help the boom/sail settle into position but it all lowers no problem.
I have a peice of PVC with a lenght wise cut that I use to distribute the point load of the mast sitting in the crutch (and still connected to the base) and I "slowly" drive the mile or so home and pass under a few power lines. Im pretty sure someone is going to tell me Ill bust or bend the mast doing this (and that its illegal - as I mentioned, Im in a farily remote area) so Ill spare the extra post and point out that you can bust the mast doing this (Ive only done this maybe 50 times myself but always with the load distribution PVC at the crutch). This cuts my setup time next time I go saiing to under 10 minutes.
Dont know about the smaller boat but this works fine on the 26S.. just dont forget to disconnect the boom from the mast.
When I get done trailer sailing, I drop the main sail (slugs still in the mast) and put the main sail bag on. After pulling the boat out of the water, I then disconnect the boom from the mast (pop a pin out in my case) and then lower the mast into the crutch using the gin pole/baby stay sytem your familiar with. As the mast lowers, I may have to gently help the boom/sail settle into position but it all lowers no problem.
I have a peice of PVC with a lenght wise cut that I use to distribute the point load of the mast sitting in the crutch (and still connected to the base) and I "slowly" drive the mile or so home and pass under a few power lines. Im pretty sure someone is going to tell me Ill bust or bend the mast doing this (and that its illegal - as I mentioned, Im in a farily remote area) so Ill spare the extra post and point out that you can bust the mast doing this (Ive only done this maybe 50 times myself but always with the load distribution PVC at the crutch). This cuts my setup time next time I go saiing to under 10 minutes.
Dont know about the smaller boat but this works fine on the 26S.. just dont forget to disconnect the boom from the mast.
Walt, that's good info I can use. Another question, do you think I can just drop the mast enough to clear the bridge and leave it on the jin pole while I go under the bridge?
I guess it would depend on how much you trust the baby stays and the gin pole if for example a motor boat flew by and created a wake. Usually one baby stay is taking the load and if it broke loose, it wouldnt be a good thing. Or if whatever is holding the gin pole to the deck ripped out, also not a good thing. I havent had any issue and Ive raised the mast a lot of times but I make sure no one is around when Im raising or lowering . On the mac, you can usually pop the little plastic caps out inside the cabin and see what is used for backing on all the hardware used in the mast raising (baby stays and my gin pole connects to a cleat just behind the bow pulpit). You might find some backing that doesnt look right (sloppy manufacturing or done by a PO) and needs to be beefed up. If you cant find an inspection access... Id worry because someone may have just used screws. FYI, mine all looked adequate but I dont know who installed everything.
There was a thead earlier in this forum regarding the 26C crutch and Doug from S. Cal posted a picture of a nice setup. Might search for that thread or ask in the Macowners forum.
You need to put the crutch aft of the tiller if you want to leave it on all the time and seems most have mounted it on the stern rail somehow. Im away from home at the moment so have limited pictures but you can see the height of the one I use in the picture (taken a few days ago)
You need to put the crutch aft of the tiller if you want to leave it on all the time and seems most have mounted it on the stern rail somehow. Im away from home at the moment so have limited pictures but you can see the height of the one I use in the picture (taken a few days ago)
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I made a mast crutch out of pvc sitting on top of the rudder post and fastened to the stern rail. It is a 1 1/2" inside a 2" and the rudder is free to turn and the mast crutch stay stationary. Thanks for all the suggestions.
It worked pretty good. I kept it low as possible due to shed clearance and it needs to be a few inches higher to clear when putting on the mast plate. It will be easily adjustable by drilling some holes in the pvc and using a pin.
I also have a Gulf Coast 18 and took it under 2 bridges on Saturday. Mostly muscle putting it up and down. Need to add baby stays but was able to raise and lower while on the water by myself. Had to drop the main and disconnect the boom, left jib on forestay. Used wooden crutch and just flipped the tiller and used is from the back. Was nice to not be hemmed in by the bridges. Great wind, 15-20.
got a santana 27' on a trailer and raising the mast from the rear is not an option due to cabin height so i use the main sheet and boom to raise it off the crutch mounted to the tongue extension on the trailer.
could work for low bridges also
works well from cocpit winches for safety in or out of water
could work for low bridges also
works well from cocpit winches for safety in or out of water
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