Great Loop on a Sailboat - Mast handling ideas?

[dlochner]

That's some really great advice.
As one that has dreamed about doing the loop never considered heading to Nova Scotia to connect with the Great Lakes.
Based upon where I keep my boat, mileage wise sailing to Yarmouth NS is equal to going south to Portsmouth NH.
Taking this northern route sounds much more pleasant than heading south to NYC to hit the Hudson.
Thanks!

Remember, entering the Great Lakes via the St Lawrence requires going up stream against the current and the prevailing winds. The tidal currents before the first dam can be quite ferocious.

 

[Caboteur]

Remember, entering the Great Lakes via the St Lawrence requires going up stream against the current and the prevailing winds. The tidal currents before the first dam can be quite ferocious.

And this is why you travel only during flow tide from Tadoussac to Trois-Rivières, less than 200 nautical miles. There are marinas spaced to do day-trips and find refuge at night.
Going up-river those would be Cap-à-l’Aigle, St-Jean-Port-Joli, St-Laurent de l’Ile d’Orléans, Québec, Portneuf, Trois-Rivières.. so six days plus the time from Maine. A good three weeks including time for inclement weather.
A beautiful and interesting cruise.

 

[patbratton]

I am HOT into planning a long yearned-for "bucket list" adventure... I am 65 now, still fit and fully able and competent, but not a lot of years left to say that... better get after it, right?

Route: I will actually be doing an unconventional "Figure 8" route... Florida - Hudson River cut, explore Great Lakes then St Lawrence to Atlantic, back to Hudson River - Chicago, then rivers to gulf to Florida.... starting from Florida (in Feb 2023). Parts of the trip will be solo, parts my wife will join me, about 50/50.

Boat: I've been sifting thru my options for years, very experienced sailor. I'll be buying and preparing "the boat" starting in May or June (2022). I'll buy a well used sailboat with good-bones, in need of general TLC. For my purposes, 27'-30' will be ideal, with a centerboard-keel & diesel engine, and a deck-stepped mast. Lot's of options... Tartan, O'Day, Pearson, Benneteau, Bristol, etc...

The Question(s): This is the first of what I'm sure will be many questions posed on this great forum. I'm keeping the mast with me... I'm a sailor and love wind in my wings. It appears I will need to un-step/load&carry/re-step at least 4 times, as many as 6 times for this Figure 8 route. Obviously I can find boatyards with cranes, but I'm hoping for a clever DIY solution...

• Maybe anchor fore&aft under a bridge or tree, use block & tackle to raise & lower? Is this even realistic? Seems possible, but not very clever.
• Any better DIY ideas out there?

This guy has done the loop more than anyone else. He uses a sailboat.

Cruising America's Great Loop in a Sailboat

How to cruise America's Great Loop in a sailboat. What you need to know, including mast and bridge height restrictions, clearances, mast stepping, sailing vs cruising, what to expect, and why a sailboat might be your best choice.

captainjohn.org

 

[Hayden Watson]

There are many ways to carry a mast on deck. Key parts are putting the butt of the mast forward, (fewer expensive parts to damage), covering both ends with buckets or some protection, and lots of cargo straps. This is Second Star with the mast on deck and only secured well enough to get from the travel lift back to the dock. In the end there were many more cargo straps.

I carried the mast on the center line. Along the Erie there are places and locks where you don't really have choice about which side to dock on. I also set it up so the boarding ladder on the stern could be used if someone fell in. More photos are available.

View attachment 201886

That must have been a keel stepped boat given that the base of the mast is beyond the furler drum. You mention leading with your butt to protect the expensive bits and bobs.
On a deck step mast, leading with your butt will result in your furling drum supported only my the foil being the the first thing to any frontal encounter.

 

[dLj]

And this is why you travel only during flow tide from Tadoussac to Trois-Rivières, less than 200 nautical miles. There are marinas spaced to do day-trips and find refuge at night.
Going up-river those would be Cap-à-l’Aigle, St-Jean-Port-Joli, St-Laurent de l’Ile d’Orléans, Québec, Portneuf, Trois-Rivières.. so six days plus the time from Maine. A good three weeks including time for inclement weather.
A beautiful and interesting cruise.

Thank you!

What an excellent reference post! I'm archiving this one..

dj

 

[dlochner]

That must have been a keel stepped boat given that the base of the mast is beyond the furler drum. You mention leading with your butt to protect the expensive bits and bobs.
On a deck step mast, leading with your butt will result in your furling drum supported only my the foil being the the first thing to any frontal encounter.

That's correct and my mast is keel stepped, which makes a 36 foot boat a 54 foot boat.

On a deck stepped mast there needs to be support for the furling drum and foil and it is better with the masthead forward if everything is stripped off the mast head.

Also, because deck stepped masts are shorter there is less overhang and by having the mast higher in the back than in the front the over hang can be reduced.